Basketball-Alamo boys break a losing streak against Magdalena

Boys

The Alamo Cougars won their game at home on Tuesday, Dec. 9, against the Magdalena Steers by a score of 50-45. Getting a win is always nice, but this win was especially nice for Alamo. It had been a long while since the Cougars basketball team had beaten the Steers.

“Alamo Navajo beat Mag for the first time since 2001. I was a senior on the 2001 team. And now my son along with two other of my teammate’s sons are on this team.” Alamo varsity boys Head Coach Lemuel Guerro said.

Magdalena had a 2-3 record coming into the game, while Alamo was 1-1 prior to the game. Alamo had beaten Magdalena in the preseason scrimmage in Magdalena a few weeks ago. Magdalena then faced a challenging start to their season with two 3A schools back-to-back, but they stayed competitive in those games and lost to Socorro by only two points. Magdalena went on to win two out of three and take third place in their Steer Stampede tournament. It looked to be extremely competitive heading into the game, so beating Magdalena was no easy feat.

“Magdalena runs a solid basketball program. To break a 24 [game] losing streak was an accomplishment. Being a player on the last team to beat Mag in 2001, to being the head coach to break that streak. Something neat about this is we have three fathers on the 2001 team that each have sons on the current team. Anderson Pino and son Andy Pino. Vicente Apachito and son Zephyr Apachito. And myself, Lemuel Guerro and son Zephaniah Guerro.” Guerro said.

#23 Scotty Guerro led the Cougars with 14 points and #14 Tilial Secatero scored 12 in the win. 

Alamo has improved to 4-2 after winning two of three games in Mescalero at the Christmas Classic from Dec. 11-13: W 64-53 versus Capitan, L 67-47 versus Fort Sumner/House and W 53-48 versus Pine Hill for third place in the tournament. Their next game will be at home against Mescalero Apache on Dec. 22 at 3 p.m, part of the Striking Eagle Tournament. The solid start has the Cougar boys hopeful for going far this season, maybe even farther than their fathers had gone back in 2001.

“[It] was a great season: we were Steer Stampede Champions [and] district runner ups. We lost to Cliff by five points. Unfortunately, we had a few players get injured prior to our regional game and that’s where the road ended for us, at regionals.” Guerro said.

The Magdalena Steers beat the Oak Grove Owls 47-43 at home on Tuesday, Dec, 16. They are now 3-4 for the season. Next, they will travel for the Texico Tournament Dec. 18-20 and will be facing Des Moines first on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 3:45 p.m.

Girls

On the girls side, Magdalena held out for a close win over the Lady Cougars, 48-45. The Alamo and Magdalena girls teams traded leads throughout the game. Alamo was up 15-11 after the first quarter, Magdalena went up 24-21 by halftime, and then they were tied at the end of the third quarter at 34 each.

“Both teams gave the standing room only crowd an awesome game. Both teams were well coached. In that crucial fourth quarter our inexperience showed as we committed fouls that most teams don't make at that time. A learning experience that we will use through-out the season.” Hunt said.

Alamo fouls late in the game sent Magdalena to the free throw line six times in the fourth quarter, and they made four of those. Alamo did not shoot any free throws. Those free throws made a difference, but the Lady Cougars were still within one point with 13.4 seconds left.

“We set it up to take the last shot. We wanted to take it early and crash the boards. We took an off-balanced shot, and they got the rebound and threw it the length of the floor which gave them a three point win.” Lady Cougars Head Coach Randy Hunt said.

Freshman guard and captain Butterfly Secatero led the Lady Cougars with 16 points and senior Tisha Mexicano scored 10 for the team. Three other Alamo players contributed points in the game.

The Lady Cougars are now 2-3 for the season after winning one of three at the Mescalero Christmas Classic from Dec. 11-13: W 47-23 versus Reserve, L 60-39 against Fort Sumner/House and L 60-56 to Mescalero Apache. Their next game is at home against 2-2 Zuni on Monday, Dec. 22, at 1 p.m, part of the Striking Eagle Tournament.

“The Lady Cougars are learning how to be competitive and disciplined in the classroom and on the court. We have high expectations for this program which will produce a shot at state again. It takes time to get young student-athletes to understand the need for mental toughness in critical situations. This will be an exciting season with the Lady Cougars speeding up and down the floor.” Hunt said.

Magdalena continued its undefeated start to the season and improved to 6-0. It might have been a little too close for comfort, but Magdalena Head Coach Sara Sue Olney saw the positive side of the early season challenge for her team.

“It was a great game played by both teams. We got in foul trouble early, but it was good for us to be tested. We stayed calm and we pulled it out in the end.” Olney said.

#2 Jema Ganadonegro and #5 Elia Cleveland each scored 13 points in the win. Five other girls added points to the scoreboard for Magdalena that night.

The now 7-0 Magdalena girls beat the Oak Grove Owls 58-7 at home on Tuesday, Dec. 16. They will travel for the Texico Tournament Dec. 18-20 and will be facing Des Moines first on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m.