When Alamo Navajo was picked as the state’s No. 11 seed for the boys Class A state basketball tournament, there was a rumbling on the reservation because Cougar (24-4) fans felt their team was worthy of greater respect.

The week’s preparation to face No. 6 Dora wasn’t burdened by the enormous chips on the shoulders of the Cougars, who came home with a 58-55 knockout on March 4 against the Coyotes (20-7).

“We are going into the tournament worried about Alamo Navajo,” Cougar coach Lemuel Guerro said. “That’s all we need to focus on. We know what we need to do to get to the next round.”

On Saturday, that focus turned to containing a team the Cougars knew little about, due to geography and the 300 miles separating the two schools.

It was much closer at halftime, where the Cougars trailed by Dora 31-26, but they rallied with Tayshawn Pino, Mathis Apachito, Scotty Guerro, and Jay Apachito fueling a 20-12 run in the third quarter. Jacob Apache was the first-half sparkplug scoring 15 of his team-high 17 points.

Leading 46-43, the two teams exchanged fouls and free throws, with the Cougars holding off a last-second rally in a 12-12 final quarter.

Alamo advances to the state quarterfinals to face No. 3 Melrose (22-6), a 69-48 winner over No. 14 Mesilla Valley Christian School. The two teams square up on Wednesday in a 4:45 p.m. game at Bernalillo High School.

It is the first time in school history the Cougars have made it past the first round of the state tournament and comes on the heels of Alamo’s first-ever boys district championship.

Scoring

Tayshawn Pino 12, Jacob Apache 17, Mathis Apachito 11, Scotty Guerro 9, Jay Apachito 8, Zephaniah Guerro 3.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor