By Matt Hickman/Sierra Vista Herald
GLENDALE — After seeing a 13-game winning streak snapped on Saturday at Arizona Western College, the Cochise College men’s basketball team blew open a one-point halftime edge in an 80-65 win over Glendale on Wednesday.
“We came out and played a good second half; defended well,” Cochise head coach Jerry Carrillo said. “We stretched it to about 20 and won by 15 going away. So we’re pleased.”
Demeco Blue scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Joe Bell Austin scored 15 points and hit four 3-pointers, and Jerry Duckworth and Demitrius Balark had 12 points apiece.
The Cochise women continued to stay hot, beating Glendale on Wednesday 89-49. Five Apaches finished in double figures, led by Yvonte Neal, who had four 3-pointers in the first half.
“They came out in a zone against us and we executed well; had good shot-selection,” Cochise head coach Laura Hughes said. “We got up really quickly and sustained our effort throughout the game. That’s been kind of a problem for us.”
Neal finished with 14 points, Tianna Brown and Donae Moguel each had 11, and Madison Lopez and Ashley Mitchell had 10 apiece.
Both Cochise basketball teams boast a 15-2 overall record. In Arizona Community College Athletic Conference play, the men are 8-1, tied for first place in the conference, and the women are 7-1, just behind Central Arizona College, which is ranked fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Next, the Apaches face Central Arizona on Saturday in Douglas. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free to all regular-season home games on the Douglas Campus.