November 15, 2005
SPORTSMen’s basketball seeks revenge in new season
The Mesa Community College men’s basketball team is preparing for the fast approaching season in hopes of continuing the winning tradition.
The 2004 team finished the season with a winning record of 20 wins and ten losses and a trip to the NJCAA Region I Playoffs. Seeded as the No. 3 team, the Thunderbirds upset No. 2 Cochise College and moved on to the championship, where they lost to Arizona Western, 53-73. The unfortunate lost will have the 2005 squad hungry to take on Region I opponents again.
Freshman guard Joshua Wells of Tempe High said, “We expect nothing but the best of effort from our team this year. We should be a winning team this year, and put up some real competition”.
Returning center David Coffey agreed, saying, “We have been weightlifting and working hard since the summer started. Our defense should be strong, and we should be good. We are not as talented as the other teams, but we work really hard. We are looking for revenge from last year’s finish. We most definitely have a shot to take it all the way past regionals to nationals this year. We have great teamwork, we play as a team, and the entire team has the same goal this year: to win.”
While their season didn’t start until the Elks Tip Off Tournament on Nov. 11 in San Jacinto, California, the team had already tasted competition by participating in the ACCAC men’s basketball preseason jamboree, numerous scrimmages, and the benefit game for the Gulf Coast against Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Nov. 9.
Coach Alton Lister also agreed with his players, stating, “We should have a really competitive team this year. We have really good depth and many interchangeable parts. The two teams that will be a challenge for us will be Cochise College and Arizona Western.” Those are also the top two teams from a year ago and Cochise was picked to finish on top again with seven first place votes. MCC received one first place vote.
The team has only four returning freshman from a year ago and Coach Lister attributed that to the cycle many community colleges face, as many players transfer onto universities.
The team will spend the month of November playing games on the road with the home opener against Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m.