Men's Hoops Wraps Up Busy December with Victories at PC Holiday Classic

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (8-9, 2-5 ACCAC) wrapped up a busy December with two victories at the Phoenix College Holiday Classic. At the event, the Cougars defeated Bismarck State College on Dec. 29 (57-54) and Dream City Prep on Dec. 30 (65-55) after narrowly falling to Bella Vista Post Grad (72-70) in overtime on Dec. 28. Earlier in the month, SMCC fell 99-83 at Pima CC on Dec. 8 and 104-72 at Cochise College on Dec. 11 in a pair of Arizona Community College Athletic Conference contests.

Dream City Prep Recap

Sophomore Demonte Demore led the Cougars with 18 points and six rebounds, and freshman Darien Allen added 15 points and nine boards as the Cougars posted a 65-55 victory. SMCC trailed 27-22 at halftime but outscored Dream City Prep 43-28 in the second half to earn the comeback victory.

The Cougars shot 40.4 percent from the field (23-of-57) and knocked down 15 free throws. They grabbed 45 rebounds, dished out 15 assists and had eight steals.

Demore was 6-of-11 from the field and connected on six free throws in 25 minutes. He added two assists and two steals to his six rebounds. Allen was 6-of-10 from the field and added two steals in 16 minutes of work.

Sophomore Shawn Black had a team-high 10 rebounds and four blocked shots to go with six points in 26 minutes. Sophomore Abdi Odowaay had eight points, three rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes.

Bismarck State College Recap 

Allen scored 28 points, and sophomore Davion Stringer added a season-high 13 points as the Cougars defeated Bismarck State College 57-54. The Cougars posted another comeback victory, outscoring their opponent 36-29 in the second half after trailing 25-21 at halftime.

SMCC shot an even 40 percent (22-of-55) from the field and knocked down 11 free throws. The Cougars grabbed 45 rebounds and dished out 17 assists in the win.

Allen was an efficient 10-of-14 from the field and made all eight free throws. He also had eight rebounds in the victory. Stringer was 5-of-11 from the field and had three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 26 minutes.

Demore and Odowaay had seven points, and Demore grabbed five rebounds while Odowaay dished out a team-high four assists. Black grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds and blocked seven shots to go with two points.

Bella Vista Prep Recap

The Cougars fell in their opener at the PC Holiday Classic, 72-70 in overtime, to Bella Vista Prep. In the second meeting between the teams, SMCC trailed 27-21 at halftime but sent the game into the extra frame with a 40-34 second half.

Allen led the Cougars with 24 points, finishing 10-of-13 from the field. He added eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes.

Sophomore Elijah Melendez scored 21 points and knocked down four 3-pointers in 30 minutes. He also made all seven free throws and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Stringer came off the bench to score nine points and grab two rebounds. Sophomore Angel Villa had seven points and dished out a team-high four assists.

Cochise College Recap

The Cougars fell 104-72 in Douglas, Ariz., on Dec. 11 to Cochise College. SMCC shot 45.3 percent from the field (29-of-64) and made 10-of-11 free throws.

Demore and Allen led SMCC with 12 points, and Odowaay came off the bench to score 10. Allen and sophomore Jalen Gant tied for the team lead with six rebounds, while Villa had a team-high five assists to go with six points.

Black came off the bench to score seven points and grab five rebounds, and sophomore Kane Kenyon scored six points.

Pima CC Recap

The Cougars fell 99-83 to Pima CC in an ACCAC game on Dec. 8 in Tucson. SMCC shot 44.4 percent (32-of-72) from the field and 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the 3-point line.

Allen and Demore had 16 points, and Melendez added 14 in defeat. Allen was 8-of-15 from the field and grabbed five rebounds, while Demore was 5-of-10 from the field and added two 3-pointers, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes. Melendez was 5-of-13 from the field and had two 3-pointers, three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes.

Gant had six points, five rebounds and four assists, while Villa had four points and team-high six assists. Sophomore Fahad Tarjali added eight points, and sophomore Jalen Smith had four points, five rebounds and four assists in 12 minutes.