1-24-2026 8:42pm

Tiger Athlete of the Week and Basketball Roundup

Chris Edwards Editor

AJ Benitez of the Tiger Wrestling team, named Tiger Athlete of the Week -101.9

Alamogordo, NM – January 24, 2026 – The Alamogordo Tigers continue to showcase talent and grit across the winter sports season, with standout performances lighting up the courts and mats this week.

Leading off our highlights, congratulations to AJ Benitez of the Tiger Wrestling team, named Tiger Athlete of the Week for January 23, 2026. Benitez has been a key contributor for the Tigers, delivering strong showings in recent competitions including a resilient third-place finish at 120 pounds during the El Paso Bowie Invitational and consistent efforts in dual meets. His dedication and skill on the mat embody the fighting spirit of Alamogordo athletics. Sponsored by Tularosa Basin Telephone Company/Tularosa Communications, Inc. and The Winners’ Circle, this weekly honor celebrates local student-athletes who go above and beyond.

On the hardwood, the Alamogordo Tigers boys basketball team delivered an exciting victory in a high-scoring thriller against Organ Mountain. The Tigers pulled out a 77-73 win, improving their record to 14-4 overall and 1-1 in district play.

Jaedyn Hernandez paced the offense with a game-high 21 points, while Ethan Grinder added 17, Will Bynum contributed 12, Julian Favela chipped in 11, and Aaron Herrera rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10. The Tigers showed resilience and clutch play to secure the road win. Next up, Alamogordo heads to Mayfield on Tuesday for their next district matchup.

In girls basketball action, the Alamogordo Lady Tigers fell to Organ Mountain 43-28. Addyson Gonzalez led the way with 9 points, and Mariah Allen added 6. The Lady Tigers drop to 7-11 overall and 0-2 in district. They’ll look to bounce back when they host Mayfield on Tuesday at home.

At the Vicky Lawrence Tournament in Tularosa, local teams battled it out over the weekend. The Mescalero Apache Lady Chiefs opened strong but faced tough competition. They edged Tularosa 52-50 earlier in the tournament, with Elizabeth Rocha leading the charge at 20 points, Taylynn Ahidley adding 8, and Kaylyn Chino contributing 6. However, in the championship game, Mescalero fell to Silver 67-23, dropping their record to 5-14. The Lady Chiefs next host Capitan on Tuesday.

The Tularosa Lady Cats also competed hard at the tournament, falling to Santa Fe Indian School 44-26. Jaleria Caje topped the scoring with 5 points, while Veronica Blazer, Tamara Chavez, and Kiah Zysk each added 4. Tularosa drops to 10-8 and will play at Fort Sumner/House on Monday.

Alamogordo and surrounding communities continue to rally behind these young athletes as they represent the area with pride. Stay tuned to Alamogordo Town News for more updates, scores, and features on our local teams. Go Tigers! Go Chiefs! Go Cats!

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