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The Poe Corn Invitational in Roswell saw intense competition over the holiday break, with local rival Goddard coming out on top in a matchup against Alamogordo.
In boys basketball action at the Poe Corn Tournament, the Goddard Rockets defeated the Alamogordo Tigers 68-57. Jaedyn Hernandez paced the Tigers with a game-high 17 points, while Aaron Herrera and Ethan Grinder each contributed 10 points. Julian Favela added 8 points, and Will Bynum chipped in 7. Despite the strong individual efforts, Alamogordo fell to 6-3 on the season. The Tigers will look to bounce back when they host Albuquerque Academy on Tuesday at 6 PM.
Tularosa Strong in Recent Wins
The Tularosa Wildcats continued their impressive run with a pair of victories. In one contest, Tularosa edged Robertson 53-51 behind 14 points from Eluciano Gonzales. Jacoby Apachito added 13 points, River Kasero scored 7, and Joe Chavez along with Cameron Holguin each had 6. The win improved the Wildcats to 9-1, with their next game scheduled at Hot Springs on Tuesday.
In another tight battle, Tularosa topped West Las Vegas 69-64. Eluciano Gonzales led the way with 20 points, supported by 13 points each from River Kasero and Kameron Blazer, and 9 from Jacoby Apachito. That victory moved Tularosa to 8-1 earlier in the stretch, setting up a Saturday matchup against Robertson.
Hobbs Holiday Tournament: Tough Going for Alamogordo Girls
Over at the Hobbs Holiday Tournament, the Alamogordo Lady Tigers faced challenging opposition. Mayfield defeated Alamogordo 54-34, with Madi Flores, Mariah Allen, and Julianna Centrella each scoring 8 points to lead the Lady Tigers. The loss dropped Alamogordo to 4-8, and they head to Deming on Tuesday for their next contest.
In another tournament game, Piedra Vista dominated Alamogordo 48-23. Madi Flores carried the load with 13 points, while Mariah Allen added 5. The Lady Tigers fell to 4-7 at that point and were set to face Mayfield again on Wednesday at 9 AM.
These holiday tournaments provided valuable experience for teams across southern New Mexico as they head into the heart of district play in the new year.