Alamo Lady Cougars: former head coach returns

The Lady Cougars hope to have stability with the return of their very experienced Head Coach Randy Hunt. With well over 40 years of coaching experience at the helm, the team can hope to rebuild to a team once again sporting a winning record.

“I started coaching in 1977 as an assistant in football, basketball and baseball, all at Grants High School. Wonderful learning years under some legends of their sports.” Hunt said.

Hunt has returned to the position in Alamo after a three year hiatus. He had already coached at Alamo from 2016-17 to the 2021-22 season.

“I started teaching and coaching in Alamo in 2016. I had just retired from teaching and coaching from the state of New Mexico. I tried staying home but I just could not. My sister was teaching in Alamo when they needed a P.E. teacher and girl’s basketball coach. I guess the rest is obvious.” Hunt said.

Hunt has two “awesome” assistants. Assistant Head Coach and JV coach is Lyndy Torres.

“She will make an awesome head coach in basketball very soon. She is strict but fair. She is always learning and sharing what worked for her and their team back in the day.” Hunt said.

Hunt’s other assistant coach is Lanique Apachito, who is also the junior high girls basketball coach. 

“She has given input this year already that has proven to work, on the spot input that is vital to every coach.” Hunt said.

Hunt said he enjoys preparing student-athletes for the task at hand and for the future: giving them advice and instructions that “will last with them forever.”

“I enjoy watching student athletes grow into competitive people on the court and off the court. Too many coaches these days forget about life after high school sports. We owe it to our student athletes to teach them to be good people even in case of adversity. We owe it to student athletes to be competitive in the work force and in their own families.” Hunt said. 

Hunt says that he tries to instill a “do what’s right attitude” in the players. His enthusiasm and integrity show when he is working with the players, but after already having tried to retire once he knows his energy may not last forever in this line of work.

“Our goals at Alamo have always been to make student athletes accountable, respectful and competitive. I love being a teacher and a coach. I just don’t know how much longer I can do this.” Hunt said. 

The Lady Cougars are a relatively young team building for the future. Hunt said that one weakness of the team is their height, but they make up for that with speed, energy and a willingness to improve.

The Alamo girls are currently 3-4 for the season and play in Quemado next, on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Butterfly Secatero leads the team with 15.5 points per game, 80% shooting at the free throw line and a field goal shooting percentage of 38. Layal Apache has 2.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Kayleen Pino leads with 2.5 steals per game. Tisha Mexicano shoots 3-pointers with a 29% accuracy. 

See player stats here: https://www.maxpreps.com/nm/magdalena/alamo-navajo-cougars/basketball/girls/stats/

The Lady Cougars were 10-17 overall last season and 4-4 in their district for third place.

Roster:

#1 Marshayla Herrera, junior; #2 Butterfly Secatero, freshman; #3 Jaylyn Secatero, freshman; #4 Kayleen Pino, 8th; #5 Tisha Mexicano, senior; #11 Ania Torres, freshman; #12 Detriana Vandever, sophomore; #22 Mandy Pino, junior; #23 Shalayshah Guerro, senior; #30 Layla Apache, junior; #45 Kasee Ganadonegro, junior.

January schedule:

1/05 JV boys and girls at Pine Hill, 4 p.m. 

1/07 Jr High boys and girls at Mountainair, 4 p.m. 

1/08 JV/V boys and girls at Quemado, 3 p.m. 

1/08 JH boys and girls at home versus Magdalena, 5 p.m. 

1/10 V boys and girls at home versus To’hajillee, 12 p.m. 

1/12 JV girls & boys at Magdalena, 4 & 5:30 p.m.

1/13 V boys and girls at home versus Carrizozo, 4 p.m.

1/14 JH boys and girls at Magdalena, 4 p.m. 

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. 

1/23 V/JV boys and girls at Mountainair, 1 p.m. 

1/24 V/JV/JH boys and girls at home versus Quemado, 12 p.m. 

1/27 V boys and girls at home versus Hondo, 4 p.m. 

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