Alamo basketball–Lady Cougars upset Quemado Lady Eagles

The Alamo basketball program has been on a roll this past week. The JV and varsity teams dominated the courts two days in a row. They won all four games on the road in Mountainair on Friday and then did the same at home against Quemado the very next day, Saturday, Jan. 24.

“All the stuff our coaches make us do in practice is really paying off, especially when we get mad at them for making us run and stuff like that. But we know that it's all worth it, because out-hustling teams and all that is worth all the running on the court we do,” #2 Butterfly Secatero, ninth grader and captain for the Lady Cougars, said.

In Mountainair on Friday, the JV girls won easily 65-25 and then the JV boys came away with a 59-46 victory. The varsity girls played next and also won easily 68-32. The Cougar varsity team had the most competitive game of that day against the now 13-7 Mustangs. After a very slow second quarter in which they only scored four points, the Cougars fought back for a dramatic two-point victory, 81-79. 

For the Lady Cougars versus Mountainair, Secatero led the way with 20 points, Layla Apache had 14 points and Tisha Mexicano scored 12 points.

Senior Scotty Guerro found his shooting rhythm again versus Mountainair with 29 points, while the other Cougar seniors, Andy Pino and Zephaniah Guerro, added 24 and 13 points, respectively. 

Lady Cougars versus Quemado Lady Eagles

The JV Lady Cougars got the day off to a good start with a 36-29 win against Quemado. For the varsity game, the 6-10 Lady Cougars were certainly the underdogs going up against the 12-3 Lady Eagles. Yet the Alamo team came in with the momentum of the previous day's wins and the two JV wins already that day. The Lady Cougars give lots of credit to their teammates and the cardio training they have been doing in practices.

“I think we did really well with trusting our teammates. We're starting to look for each other and trust each other,” #11 Ania Torres, another ninth grader and captain for the Lady Cougars, said. “All the conditioning that our coaches give us, it really helps us in these games.” 

The Lady Cougars started strong and carried that energy to a 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. #30 Layla Apache had a near perfect first quarter with two 3-pointers and 4/4 from the free throw line to score 10 of the Alamo points. On the Quemado side, they were certainly feeling the void of one of their key starters being out due to an injury.

The Lady Eagles caught up briefly in the second quarter, only for the Lady Cougars to push back ahead 27-21 at halftime. The Lady Cougars added two more points to their lead by the end of the third quarter for a 38-30 advantage. 

The Alamo conditioning was really put to the test in the fourth quarter. Quemado battled back to within two points in the remaining minutes. However, the Lady Cougars ran hard all the way through to the end and held off the Lady Cougars to win 48-45.

“We really did good on teamwork, and we really trusted each other, and we never gave up. We pushed through it when we were tired. I'm thankful that they [the coaches] make us run, because it really paid off this game,” Apache said.

Apache finished with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Butterfly Secatero scored 14 points in the game and Tisha Mexicano added 10. In addition to scoring, the Alamo players continued their full court pressure and hustle, forcing turnovers and fouls, and getting back on defense.

“We did really good today. All this hard work is paying off. It was an exciting game,” #5 Mexicano said.

The Lady Cougars are currently 8-10 on the season. They are 3-0 in their district. The Hondo Valley team forfeited their game against Alamo that was scheduled for Jan. 27.

Cougars versus Quemado Eagles

The JV boys played the second game of the day and coasted to a 55-31 victory. The varsity Alamo boys were the favored team going into their game against the 5-10 Quemado Eagles. The Cougars had already beaten the team twice this season, once in Quemado and again in the Reserve Tournament. 

Quemado played a competitive first quarter and even held the lead for a while, but Alamo still finished that quarter up 16-13. Dominant second and third quarters by the Cougars allowed them to take a comfy lead. Alamo rested the starters near the end and let the bench take them to a 60-28 finish.

The seniors are often the top scorers for the team, but when they are not shooting as well they quickly take on other roles for the team.

“Some games, I can score a lot. Some games my scoring isn't on. I tell myself, I tell my team, ‘Hey, I'm not the hot hand right now. I'm cold. So I'll make it up to you guys on defense.’ I'll hustle for every rebound, still block, just try and get my team in a better position,” #33 Zephaniah Guerro said.

Juniors Cobre Mexicano and Tilial Secatero each stepped up big time with 19 points on the day. 

“I want you guys to notice me and my brother Erboc (Cobre Mexicano) and Zephyr (Apachito), we’re all upcoming. Just watch out for us, we’ll be ready, ready for anything,” Tilial Secatero said.

The Cougars are now 15-4 overall for the season and 4-0 in their district. They beat the now 5-10 Hondo Valley team 75-49 at home on Jan. 27. The Cougars are feeling ready for the next game and the remainder of the season with a feeling of strong team chemistry and depth.

“We're starting to feel where each other are. We can pass without looking at each other,” #32 Andy Pino said. As for the other players stepping up today when he had only eight points, Pino added, “I know I'm not scoring that much, and I'm fine with that. I rather rebound and get blocks and run for loose balls. That's what I like, trusting our bench more.”

Alamo basketball recent and upcoming games

1/21 JH boys and girls at To’hajiilee.

1/22 JH boys and girls at home versus Mountainair. 

1/27 V boys and girls at home versus Hondo. 

1/30 JH boys and girls at Corona, 2:00 p.m.

2/03 V boys and girls at Carrizozo, 4:00 p.m.

2/05 V boys and girls at Vaughn, 4:00 p.m.

2/07 JH boys and girls at Reserve JH Tournament.