Tohatchi Dominates Aztec 82-47 as Cougars Build Momentum

Tohatchi relied on pressure defense and the scoring punch of Myles and Myka Candelaria to dismantle Aztec 82-47 Friday night at Lillywhite Gymnasium. Myles scored a game-high 26 points and the brothers combined for 48, a performance that allowed the Cougars to control the game from the second quarter onward and build a decisive halftime lead.

Aztec opened with early life, senior Christian Jacquez converting three drives to stake the Tigers to a 6-0 advantage. The Cougars, which started the game shooting 46 percent and just 1 of 10 from 3-point range, answered when Myka Candelaria hit Tohatchi’s first basket and Myles capped a late run in the quarter to put Tohatchi ahead 15-11.

A midcourt turnover early in the second quarter swung momentum firmly toward Tohatchi. The Cougars’ defensive pressure produced steals and transition points that pushed the lead to 43-22 at halftime. Head coach Kendall Livingston said the team emphasized fundamentals and reset at halftime: "We were stressing to the guys to just run our offense and play defense," he said. "When we go in at halftime, we tell them the score is set back at 0-0. The guys know how to connect and build chemistry from there."

Both teams shot better in the third quarter, with Aztec hitting 80 percent and Tohatchi 63 percent from the floor, but back-to-back three-point plays by Myles Candelaria and DeAndre Rios kept Aztec from closing the gap. Jeffrey Leonard’s late third-quarter basket left the score 62-38 heading into the fourth, where Tohatchi closed out the win. Myka scored six inside in the final frame while Myles and Rios added 3-pointers to seal the outcome.

For Tohatchi, the victory provides a boost before the Gallup Invite and the start of district play against Zuni on Jan. 13. The Cougars will travel to face Grants on Thursday in the Gallup Invite. Aztec, still searching for a second win, visits Piedra Vista at 7 p.m. Tuesday and then travels to Bayfield on Friday. The loss highlights areas Aztec must address on both ends of the court as it navigates the remainder of a difficult schedule and seeks to regain competitive footing for district competition. Final score: Tohatchi 82, Aztec 47.