Alamo Cougars split games versus neighbor rivals

Alamo hosted the varsity basketball teams from To'hajiilee on Saturday, Jan. 10. While it's a bit of a drive from To'hajiilee to Alamo, they are still somewhat close neighbors. There are some blood relations connecting the communities as well. This generally friendly rivalry filled the gymnasium at Alamo for the two exciting games. 

Lady Cougars

The Lady Cougars barely lost their game by a score of 50-48. Alamo fought back from a 10-point deficit in the 3rd and even had a 1-point lead briefly in the 4th quarter before being edged out in the end. 

“Our kids played well. Our kids played hard. It was a good game. It was a good game for the crowd, good game for us. Maybe not so good for To'hajiilee, because sure they wanted to come in and, you know, beat us [easily] because of their record.” Head Coach Randy Hunt said about almost upsetting a team that was 10-3 coming into the game.

The three team captains for the Lady Cougars were the leading scorers for the game: #30 Layla Apache with 14 points, #5 Tisha Mexicano had 12 points and #2 Butterfly Secatero scored 11 points.

The Alamo Lady Cougars are now 4-7 for the season after winning their first district game against Carrizozo 62-16 on Jan. 13. Three of their losses were within four points, so this is a team that still has a strong competitive edge going into district play.

Cougars

The Alamo Cougars won 88-79. To'hajiilee got within 3 points a couple of times within the last 3 minutes, but the Alamo held them off and had a strong finish. The Cougars scored six points in the last 25 seconds to secure their victory.

Senior and team captain Scotty Guerro has been the team’s leading scorer so far this season, with 21.2 points per game. He only scored eight points in the To’hajiilee game, but he gave a shout-out to his teammates and acknowledged the depth of his team.

“Happy for my teammates, because they all stepped up. All the freshmen stepped up today, like Zephyr.” #23 Scotty Guerro said. “For me being a leader of the score. I've only scored 16 points for the last two games together. So thankful for them for stepping up, because I was in the slump for the last two games, not scoring.”

#3 Zephyr Apachito scored eight points in the game. #1 Cobre Mexicano, a junior, was the day’s leading scorer with 26 points. Another of Alamo’s seniors and a captain, #33 Zephaniah Guerro, had a strong second half with 16 points, including three 3-pointers in a row and five out of six from the free throw line to help the Cougars come back from trailing early on. Zephaniah Guerro said the team bond has been a big factor in their success this season.

“I just want to start off by saying that our team started off the season on the slower side. We weren't moving the ball much. We weren't that bonded. And so I'd say during the Mescalero tournament was when we started to bond. We started going to each other's house, hanging out, having cookouts, like team bonding. And ever since we started team bonding, we started playing as a better team.” Zephaniah Guerro said.

The Cougars are now 9-3 on the season. They won their first district game 83-27 at home versus Carrizozo on Jan. 13.

Alamo Cougars recent and upcoming games:

1/12 JV girls & boys at Magdalena.

1/13 V boys and girls at home versus Carrizozo (district).

1/14 JH boys and girls at Magdalena. 

1/15 JH boys and girls at home versus NACA, 4 p.m. 

1/15-17 V boys and girls at Reserve Tournament, TBA.

1/20 V boys and girls at home versus Vaughn, 3:30 p.m.

1/20 JV boys and girls at Wallatowa, 4 p.m. 

1/21 JH boys and girls at To’hajiilee, 4 p.m.

1/22 JH boys and girls at home versus Mountainair, 4 p.m.