Strong second half lifts Alamo over Socorro 58-41

ALBUQUERQUE — Alamo Navajo broke away from Socorro in the 11th annual Striking Eagle Invitational basketball tournament as the Lady Cougars took advantage of the Socorro Lady Warriors’ lack of focus on Dec. 29 for a 59-41 consolation bracket championship win.

Socorro owned a 26-23 advantage at halftime, but Alamo pressed and trapped the Lady Warriors into mistakes. Those miscues, combined with the Lady Cougars’ getting red-hot from long range, led to a 15-7 third quarter, and Alamo poured it on with a 21-8 run in the final frame.

Socorro played short-handed throughout the tournament, with players out due to extracurricular activities and the holidays. The Lady Warriors have played six tournament games sandwiched around the Christmas break and need more practice time, but they have had lots of conditioning.

“We’ve played six tournament games with very little practice.” Socorro coach Brad Bailey said. “We’re unable to fix some of the stuff we need to fix. We’ve had like one or two practices and six games. The takeaway is that we have got stuff to fix, and we need time to get it fixed. Like some of the defensive movement that we had at the end, but we’re pedaling up a pretty steep hill.”

The Lady Warriors had their moments which included a 58-52 win over 4A Bernalillo in the tournament’s second round.

Regardless of Socorro’s struggles, Alamo launched a brilliant perimeter game in the second half and found ways to get the ball into the hands of Elliana Guerro, who scored her 12 points after halftime and all via three-pointers.

Hailey Apachito led all scorers with 19 points, and Sapphire Sandoval’s 17 points were highlighted by her scoring all of Alamo’s 10 first-quarter points.

Alamo ended up with mixed results in the tournament as coach J.J. Apachito figures out the chemistry of his young Lady Cougar squad.

“Right now, I’m seasoning the team. We have a few injuries that have limited our ball handling,” Apachito said. “I’m trying to work people in and get them comfortable. I have a bunch of young players, so I’m trying to get them ready.”

One thing you can’t coach is speed and quickness, and Alamo has plenty of it combined with an excellent ability to set up the long ball. Under the basket, Koolonna Apachito came away with seven points and Tiana Apachito netted two.

Alamo got to the consolation championship with a 40-30 loss to Monument Valley before beating Whitehorse 46-37.

Tamra Fowler’s 10 points were tops for Socorro. Faith Lucero had nine points and eight of Socorro’s 15 second-half points. Also adding to Socorro’s totals were Jasmine Alvarado 8, Ariana Crespin 6, Jaylin Gonzales 4 and Alex Crespin 4.