The Cochise College men’s basketball team got its 23rd win of the year on Saturday against Central Arizona, 79-72.
The Apaches got off to a slow start, letting the Vaqueros jump out to an early 17-10 lead. After Jerry Carrillo called a timeout, Cochise was able to take its first lead of the game, at 27-26, with eight minutes remaining, on a Jawan Stepney layup. The remainder of the first-half saw a very close game and heading into intermission the score was tied at 41 apiece.
In the second-half, Dallas Polk-Hilliard showed great skill, scoring five baskets and finishing the game by making all 7 of his field goal attempts.
Cochise was able to pull away late in the second half, and two Central technical fouls helped push that lead up even more. Polk-Hilliard was the Apaches leading scorer, finishing the game with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jeff Long chipped in an additional 13 points and 5 rebounds. Other sophomores Stepney and Justin Jones finished with 10 and 12 points, respectively. Point guard Arell Hennings dished out 11 assists, while big man Emanual Shepherd grabbed 11 rebounds.
Cochise currently is alone in second place in the ACCAC, but they are in first place in the Region I standings. If Cochise wins at Glendale on Tuesday, they will be the number one seed and host Mesa Community College.