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.

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