T'birds rout Artichokes to move to 6-3 on season

Coach Sam Ballard's squad took a 52-19 lead into the half over Coach Will Worosylla's injury-riddled Artichokes and won easily, 91-40 on Wednesday night, December 7 in front of a large crowd at Theo Heap Gym.

Mesa is now 6-3 on the season and have won five of six. 

Five players notched double-digits in scoring, led by Christian Griggs-Williams' 19 on seven of 12 from the floor.  Griggs-Williams is among the league leaders in field goal percentage.  He also added nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Elliot Fletcher added 16 on seven of nine from the floor as Mesa shot 53% for the game (32 of 61).  Fletcher notched the lone double-double in this one as he chipped in with 10 boards.

Tylor Wimbish hit for 15 on six of nine from the field and grabbed seven rebounds as Mesa controlled the boards overall, 49-25. 

Brendan Pineda-Morales chipped in with 13 points on five of eight shooting and Assad Woods rounded out the scorers in double-figures with 10 points and six rebounds.

Mesa was 23 of 29 from the charity stripe as 55 personal fouls were called in this runaway Mesa win.  Scottsdale was just 18 of 35 from the line. 

The T'Bird defense was all but smothering in this one as SCC only managed 11 made field goals for the entire game (11 of 42) and missed all nine of their three-point attempts. 

Mesa travels to take on Pima this Saturday at 4:00 pm in their final conference match of 2011, prior to the Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout on December 28, where two of the top five teams in the nation will be participating in an 8-team tournament.