Youthful team grows after early losses
MCC wins on the road against defending ACCAC
champions
BY CHRIS BOWMAN
MESA LEGEND
Submitted December 12, 2000
The men’s basketball squad opened up their season on Nov. 16 with
first-year head Coach Alton Lister in St. George, Utah, at the Dixie Classic.
Lister takes over an inexperienced team that includes two returning players,
Michael Shepston and Sultan Strong, from last year’s 9-21 team that
compiled the worst record in school history. Lister believes his team
will need some time to grow considering few players have any college basketball
seasoning.
The Thunderbirds’ first opponent in the tournament was the Northwest
All-Stars. Shepston led MCC with 25 points, but the All-Stars won the
game 102-99. Lister then went looking for his first win against Dixie
College, but the Thunderbirds were handled by the home team 93-71.
California’s Mount San Antonio College gave MCC its third loss of
the tournament, as the Mounties won 86-77.
"We went to Dixie College and played some really good competition,"
Lister said. "I thought those teams would prepare us for our conference
play."
The T-Birds returned to Arizona, but headed south to Douglas to start
ACCAC play against Cochise College on Nov. 21. Freshman Matt McCann scored
21 points as MCC won 90-85 against last year’s ACCAC champions.
Northland Pioneer College came to Mesa for the T-Birds home-opener on
Nov. 25. MCC won its second-straight ACCAC game as sophomore transfer
Marc Keach led the way with 21 points off the bench in the 89-84 victory.
The Thunderbirds lost their first conference game of the year when they
traveled to Phoenix College. Shepston scored 17 in the 67-62 loss to the
Bears.
"We have a lot of young guys," Lister said. "As we grow
through the season, I think we will start winning these close games."
Chandler-Gilbert Community College shocked MCC 75-72, as the T-Birds
fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter. MCC then traveled to Central Arizona
and lost 98-77 to the first place Vaqueros.
The T-Birds are currently 2-3 in the ACCAC, and 2-6 overall.
MCC will host the annual Rotary Shootout Classic Jan. 2-4. The tournament
will host New Mexico Junior College, New Mexico All-Stars, Indiana’s
Vincennes College, New York’s Fashion Insititute of Technology, and
Eastern Arizona College.
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