Apaches Set for Region I Semifinal Showdown at Eastern Arizona
The postseason has arrived, and the Cochise College Apaches are headed back to Thatcher with championship aspirations.
After closing the regular season with a strong push and finishing 19-11 overall and 9-6 in ACCAC play, Cochise has secured the No. 3 seed in the NJCAA Region I Tournament. The Apaches will travel to face No. 2 seed Eastern Arizona College on Thursday, March 5, inside Guitteau Gymnasium in Thatcher, Arizona.
Season Series vs. Eastern Arizona
Thursday's semifinal will mark the fourth meeting between the longtime conference rivals this season.
Cochise earned a key home victory over Eastern Arizona in February, defeating the Gila Monsters 76-71 behind a 25-point performance from freshman guard Davon Jones and 23 points from Jhace Johnson. The Apaches shot over 80 percent from the free-throw line in that contest and controlled the tempo down the stretch to secure the win.
In their earlier matchup in Thatcher, Eastern Arizona protected its home floor, using strong rebounding and interior scoring to pull away late. The three contests highlighted just how evenly matched the teams are heading into postseason play.
Momentum Matters
Cochise enters the tournament playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Apaches won five straight games late in the year and have shown improved balance on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Cochise has relied on a dynamic backcourt led by Davon Jones, Teron Murray, and Jhace Johnson, while Emmanuel Jo Samuel continues to provide interior scoring and rebounding presence.
Defensively, the Apaches have tightened their rotations and forced key turnovers during their late-season surge — a critical factor against a disciplined Eastern Arizona squad that thrives in half-court execution.
The Other Semifinal
The opposite side of the bracket will feature No. 1 seed Arizona Western College hosting No. 4 seed College of Southern Nevada in Yuma, Arizona. The Matadors earned the top seed after a strong conference campaign and will look to defend their home court against a Southern Nevada team capable of explosive scoring performances.
What's at Stake
With a win Thursday night, Cochise would advance to the Region I Championship game with an opportunity to punch a ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (MST) on Thursday in Thatcher, Arizona, but is subject to change based on tournament scheduling.
Fans unable to attend can watch the game live via the official Eastern Arizona College livestream:
Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/@eacmonsters/streams