(#13) Thunderbirds Host (#14) Pima in Region 1, DII Regional Championship
Friday, March 4, 2022 - 11:56 am | Derek Diesner
MESA, Ariz. - The 13th ranked Mesa Thunderbirds (21-7 overall, 15-5 ACCAC) host the 14th ranked Pima Aztecs (20-10 overall, 12-8 ACCAC) Saturday evening for the Region 1, DII Regional Championship. Tip time is slated for 7 pm from Theo Heap Gymnasium.
The Thunderbirds faced the Aztecs twice during the regular season, with the road teams winning each contest.
December 11 recap - Pima 70 at Mesa 64
The Aztecs jumped on Mesa right out of the gates, outscoring the T-Birds 8-2 in the first three minutes. Pima led by as much as nine in the first quarter and held a 24-16 lead after one-quarter of play.
In the second quarter, the T-Bird offense and defense came alive. Defensively, Mesa limited Pima to just 12 points; half of what they had scored in the first quarter. Offensively, the Thunderbirds scored 19 points in the second quarter and trailed Pima by just one at the break 36-35.
Mesa and Pima battled in the third quarter, as the T-Birds outscored the Aztecs for the second straight quarter 15-14; to even the game at 50 all.
Mykah Anderson converted on a layup 48 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Mesa its first lead of the ballgame, at 52-50. Pima then responded by rattling off seven straight points in the next three minutes to take a 57-52 lead over the T-Birds and never looked back.
Mesa struggled offensively, shooting 32% from the field and 16% from beyond the three-point arc. The T-Birds were led in scoring by Jasmine Belt and Jayla Johnson. Belt finished the afternoon with a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson finished with 18 points on 7-15 shooting.
February 18 recap - Mesa 73 at Pima 65
Mesa controlled the tempo in Friday's conference tilt with the Aztecs from start to finish. The Thunderbirds outscored Pima in every quarter except for the second; in which they were outscored 16-14.
Friday's game was won at the free-throw line. Mesa struggled to shoot from the field all night, hitting just 36% of their shots and 25% from beyond the three-point arc. In all, Mesa attempted 29 free throws and converted on 24 of them. Pima was limited to just 24 free-throw attempts; converting on only 14 of them.
In the win, four T-Birds scored in double-figures. Jayla Johnson led the way with 18 points and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Mykah Anderson filled the stat sheet up, finishing with 13 points and team-highs of seven rebounds, seven assists, and five steals.
Saturday's game will be live-streamed on https://mesatbirdsports.com/live, with Peyton Thomas on the call with the play-by-play.
The winner of Saturday's regional final earns an automatic bid to the 2022 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship in Port Huron, Michigan. The tournament will take place March 15-19. The tournament selection show will air live on the NJCAA Network Tuesday, March 8 at 1 PM Arizona time.
Don't forget to check out the MCC Team Shop, as well as our Booster Club.