Apaches take down Artichokes

SCOTTSDALE — In their final games before taking a fortnight’s break for the Christmas holiday, the men’s and women’s basketball teams of Cochise College closed in crisp fashion, routing Scottsdale on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The Cochise men, behind 20 points from Jordan Russell and 16 from Tevin Caldwell, routed the Artichokes 96-71, while the Apache women, shooting 58 percent from the field and doling out 33 assists, crushed Scottsdale 96-43.

“We played really well offensively,” women’s coach Laura Hughes said. “We played well together, shared the ball well and worked really well for 80 shots.”

Welles was 11-of-15 from the field, and she was followed in scoring by fellow sophomore Ashley Mitchell with 16 points and Justina Prairie Chief with 11 points and 10 assists.

For the Cochise men, it was their 10th straight win in their first game since cracking the NJCAA Division I top 25 poll on Tuesday.

The Apaches led 48-35 at the half and blew it open early in the second half. Jerry Duckworth scored 15 points, and fellow sophomore from the Seattle area, Joe Bell Austin added 12.

“We finish up with finals tomorrow, then we disperse and reconvene on the 26th,” Carrillo said.

At 11-1 on the season and 7-0 in conference play, the Apache men return to competition on the 28th for a three-game tournament at Phoenix College, opening against Frasier Valley College from Canada on the 28th, followed by games against Westwind Prep and Bismark State from North Dakota on the 29th and 30th.

The Cochise women get back in the swing of things even sooner, playing in a tournament at Pima College on the 27th.

The Lady Apaches, 11-1 overall and 6-1 in the ACCAC, play Snow College from Utah on the 27th.