Pima drops to T-Birds in tight game

Kian Hagerman
Mesa Legend

photo Kian HagermanThe Mesa men’s basketball team played a difficult game against Pima Community College on Feb. 10 in the Theo Heap Gym, a white knuckle affair that wouldn’t be decided until the final minutes of play. The opening points to go up on the scoreboard were made by Nate Jimerson via layup, though it would be answered only moments later by Kevin Biggs with a jump shot for Pima. Following this initial exchange, Pima began to build a sizeable lead that would take some time for Mesa to match. This included a run of 12 points for Pima, across about 2 minutes of play, which were made before Mesa could manage a response. Jordan Higgins of Mesa ended the short-lived streak with a layup that brought the T-Birds back into the game.

Teams collide as three Pima players attempt to complete a drive at the T-Birds’ goal. and Edward Hardt (42) of Mesa tries to block the shot.  Photo: Tania Ritko/Mesa Legend
Teams collide as three Pima players attempt to complete a drive at the T-Birds’ goal. and Edward Hardt (42) of Mesa tries to block the shot. Photo: Tania Ritko/Mesa Legend

The points were exchanged fairly evenly following this, but Pima would maintain the early edge the streak had provided them throughout the rest of the first half. Edward Hardt would make the last goal of the first half at the buzzer, bringing the score to 48-39 going into the second. A foul by Brandon Dixon on Damon Dubots started the half, which led to 2 completed free throws by Dubots for the Aztecs. Over the course of the 5 minutes that followed Mesa dominated the court with attempts on the Pima team’s goal. With 14:10 left on the clock, Higgins hit a 3-point shot, and Mesa was right on Pima’s heels; the score now 55-53 in slight favor of the Aztecs.
A succession of goals were traded between the two teams, with Pima managing to stay ahead in the midst of the interchanging score.

The turning point of the game came when Sam Hainline made a layup with 9:31 remaining in the game; the Aztecs had led the game since the first layup by Jimerson that opened play, and now the T-Birds were ahead, if only briefly. After a heated few minutes of game time, Mesa slowly pulled ahead in the final minutes of the game. The greatest disparity between the two teams that favored Mesa was achieved with less than a minute left on the clock, when a foul by Biggs on Jimerson led to 2 successful free throws and an 8-point lead. Though Aztec player Yusuf Shehata would make 4 goals from various distances in an attempt to wrest control of the game from the T-Birds once more, time ran out before this goal could be accomplished. Justice Martion made a 3-pt. jump shot at the final buzzer for Pima, but the game still ended in a win for Mesa 94-91.
Both men’s and women’s MCC basketball teams will host Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Feb. 17 in the Theo Heap Gym.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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