By Matt Hickman/Sierra Vista Herald
SELLS — The Cochise College men’s and women’s basketball teams picked up victories Saturday night against the newest members of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, Tohono O’odham Community College.
In the men’s game, the Apaches stretched their lead to as many as 17 but couldn’t blow it open, winning 77-69.
“They’re better than they were last year,” Cochise head coach Jerry Carrillo said. “I think it’s a tough venue down there, and they’re going to clip a couple of teams there this year.”
Demeco Blue led the Apaches with 23 points, Jerry Duckworth had 12 and Cochise stretched its winning streak to nine games heading into their final game before the Christmas break on Wednesday at Scottsdale.
The Cochise women cruised to a 98-53 win. Tianna Brown scored 21, Johnishia Welles had 20 points, Yvonte Neal had 15 and Ashley Mitchell 13.
“We were in control pretty much the whole game,” Cochise head coach Laura Hughes said. “They did what we asked them to do — get the ball inside. They really couldn’t match up; their tallest player was probably only 5-9.”