TOHATCHI—Senior Warren Chewiwi hit 4-of-5 free throws in the final 30 seconds to lift No. 8 Socorro over No. 9 Tohatchi 57-53 in the first round of the boys Class 3A basketball tournament on March 4.

It was the 23rd game on the highway for the Road Warriors (12-16), who didn’t look like they would be a part of the postseason picture after a rocky start. Socorro ripped off a 6-0 record in District 3-3A to emerge as the regular-season champion.

The Warriors’ season tempo followed them into Tohatchi, where they trailed 14-3 in the first quarter, and coach J.J. Griego hit the brakes and called a timeout.

Saturday was a rough night from the field for Warren Chewiwi, but the Socorro senior came through at the free-line for the Warriors.
Russell Huffman | El Defensor Chieftain

“I know, a lot of people were probably thinking we needed to call timeout sooner,” Griego said. “I like to see if they (the Warriors) can handle it. And then, if they can’t, that’s when we call the timeout.”

The key to climbing back into contention was William Griego’s eagle eye from behind the arc, where he hit three in the first quarter. Cobe Hardin and Andrew Handrich came in to provide buckets, but Chewiwi at the free-throw line and Marcus Armijo adding a fourth three-pointer foreshadowed how the game would end.

Before that happened, both teams would establish seven-point leads only to see them fade away. The game’s lead would change seven times before it was all over.

Down 49-42 in the fourth quarter, the Warriors started their final and game-winning rally with Armijo sandwiching a pair of three-pointers around another by Alex Amaro on consecutive trips down the court.

Armijo’s second long-distance dialup knotted the score at 51-51, and Tohatchi would go back on top with a free throw before Armijo scored again. A foul against the Warriors tied the game again at 53-53, and Griego circled the wagons to discuss strategy for the final minute.

“I told them we have to go to the hole. They’re giving us the middle. So, let’s go to the hole, and let’s see if we can get something in there,” Griego said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Warriors top Tohatchi 57-53, advance to Elite 8 – El Defensor Chieftain (dchieftain.com)

Tohatchi didn’t give up any ground, but defenders were forced to foul to stop Chewiwi from getting inside, and after a rough night where he didn’t hit a shot from the field, the senior scorer dug deep.

“I didn’t shoot well today, but, you know, you just got to believe that every shot is going to go in,” Chewiwi said. “You’ve got to believe that you can come back, and when we were down by like a five-point deficit (7) with a couple of minutes to go, we decided to stick together. We believe that’s what it’s all about. That’s our motto. You know, we just believe that we can win every game.”

Armijo’s pressure-packed three-pointer arrived at precisely the right moment, and he was cool about his approach.

“I was just shooting them and doing what I usually do. I like being on the road because it gives us extra motivation,” Armijo said.

Armijo’s attitude is just what Griego was looking for out of his team when he compiled his schedule last year, and the Warriors have shown they can come into a harsh environment and come away with a victory.

That’s the kind of motivation Socorro will need to take into the state quarterfinals against No. 1. St. Michael’s (24-4) on Wednesday when the Warriors tip off at the Rio Rancho Events Center at 4:45 p.m.

Scoring

Warren Chewiwi 8, Cobe Hardin 3, Fernando Torres 2, Alex Amaro 3, Andrew Handrich 4, William Griego 15, Marcus Armijo 18, Damian Greenwood 3.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor