By Matt Hickman/Sierra Vista Herald
DOUGLAS — Joe Bell Austin scored 22 points and the Cochise College men’s basketball team ran to its seventh straight win Wednesday, 100-86 over Tohono O’odham Nation.
“We didn’t play particularly well on defense; I don’t think that’s the defensive effort of a conference or region champion — it was lackluster at best,” Cochise head coach Jerry Carrillo said.
Demeco Blue scored 14 points, Jerry Duckworth had 12 on four 3-pointers, Tevin Caldwell and Anddrew Hawkins had 11 apiece for the Apaches. Tohono O’odham was led by Cesar Solis with 24 points.
Cochise upped its mark to 22-3 overall and 15-2 in Arizona Community College Athletic Conference play heading into Saturday’s game at Chandler-Gilbert, a team the Apaches beat 103-68 in the first meeting in Douglas.
The Apaches moved up two spots in this week’s NJCAA national poll from No. 24 to No. 22. They are one of three ACCAC teams, along with Arizona Western and Central Arizona, in the top 25.
Cochise women
The Cochise women’s team had an even easier time with the Jegos, winning 107-44.
Johnishia Welles had 31 points, Ashley Mitchell had 22, Madison Lopez had 15 and Yvonte Neal had 12 for the Apaches, who are now 22-3 on the season and ranked 22nd in the NJCAA Division I national poll, up from 24 a week ago.
“We were really focused on ourselves, pushing the ball at every opportunity,” Cochise head coach Laura Hughes said. “We were focused, showed good discipline and did a good job offensive rebounding… We’re ninth in the nation in assists right now and we must have had more than 25 tonight.”
On Saturday, Cochise looks to hold tight to the No. 2 slot in the ACCAC standings, hitting the road to take on Chandler-Gilbert, a team the Apaches beat 96-59 in the first meeting in Douglas.