Boys Basketball: Cliff Tops Cloudcroft, Alamogordo Opens Strong Against Silver

November 25, 2025 — Otero County, NM

The high school basketball season tipped off Tuesday night with contrasting fortunes for area teams, as Cloudcroft fell in its opener while Alamogordo delivered a convincing win on the road.

Cloudcroft Bears vs. Cliff Cowboys

The Cloudcroft Bears struggled to find their footing in their season debut, falling to Cliff 57-25. The Cowboys controlled the pace throughout, limiting Cloudcroft’s scoring opportunities and forcing turnovers that turned into fast-break points. With the loss, the Bears start the season 0-1. They’ll look to regroup quickly when they host Gateway Christian on December 2.

Alamogordo Tigers vs. Silver High Colts

The Alamogordo Tigers opened their campaign with authority, defeating Silver High 67-42.

Alamogordo led 18-14 after the first quarter, extended the margin to 37-24 at halftime, and pulled away with a 55-34 advantage after three quarters before sealing the win.

Jaedyn Hernandez led the Tigers with 20 points, while William Bynum and Aaron Herrera added 9 apiece. Julian Favela chipped in 7, and Ethan Grinder contributed 6.

The Tigers begin the season 1-0 and now turn their attention to the Artesia Tournament, December 4–6, where they’ll face tougher regional competition.

Opening night underscored the different paths ahead for Otero County basketball: Cloudcroft searching for rhythm and resilience after a tough loss, and Alamogordo riding early momentum with a balanced attack and standout scoring from Hernandez. As December approaches, both programs will have opportunities to define their seasons — the Bears by finding their stride at home, and the Tigers by proving they can carry their dominance into tournament play.

More News from Alamogordo

• Budget Reality: Air Force Teases Major Hypersonic Upgrade for Holloman …But Big Bucks Are Far From Guaranteed - Facts Matter confirmed by Air Force confirming the accuracy of 2nd Life Media reports
• Commentary & Analysis: Pretrial Rulings Case Tilt Toward Prosecution in Hadley Murder Case Dr. Ramirez (retired) has no affiliation with parties in this case and provides this analysis without warranty of accuracy nor as legal advise.