Navajo Prep’s Dylan Lansing’s answers every Tohatchi run in 59-55 win

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

TOHATCH, N.M. – Tohatchi made its runs. Navajo Prep never let them breathe.

Each time the Cougars appeared ready to pull away, senior Dylan Lansing answered. He kept the Eagles within reach long enough to deliver the decisive blows late in a 59–55 District 1-3A win on Tuesday night.

Lansing scored a game-high 27 points and reached the 1,000-point mark of his high school career as Navajo Prep handed Tohatchi its second consecutive district defeat.

“He got his thousandth point, so I’m really proud of him.” Navajo Prep coach Edward Garrison said. “He’s like a coach out on the court. He has experience and is just an overall leader for the whole team and maybe even the whole program.”

Tohatchi placed three players in double figures, led by Deandre Rios with 17 points. Myka Candelaria added 13, and Darium Peshlakai finished with 10.

The Cougars controlled the opening minutes, racing out to a 6–0 lead and dictating tempo early. Lansing quickly erased that cushion with a 3-pointer, the first of several answers that would define the night. He scored 13 first-quarter points, repeatedly halting Tohatchi surges as the Cougars carried only a 21–19 lead into the second quarter despite efficient scoring.

Tohatchi appeared to find separation in the second quarter, stringing together an 8–0 run to build a 32–25 advantage with four minutes remaining. Once again, Lansing’s presence prevented the Cougars from extending the margin. A missed fast-break chance opened the door, and Navajo Prep closed the half on an 11–0 run to turn a five-point Tohatchi lead into a 36–32 halftime deficit.

Even as Tohatchi struggled offensively to open the third quarter, the Cougars remained within striking distance, eventually finding life behind sophomore Myles Candelaria. His basket at the 3:23 mark snapped an extended scoring drought and sparked a late surge.

The Cougars reclaimed momentum late in the quarter, riding a 10–0 run capped by Myles Candelaria’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to take a 46–42 lead into the final frame.

But once again, the lead was fragile.

Lansing answered early in the fourth, attacking the rim and knocking down timely shots as Navajo Prep methodically erased the deficit. The Eagles retook the lead, 52–50, with five minutes remaining and never trailed again.

Tohatchi managed just nine points in the final quarter, while Lansing scored eight of his 27 in the closing minutes, ensuring the Cougars never regained control.

”It’s fun playing in a loud environment, we thrive off of that,” said Garrison of the key to the Eagles’ close victory. “It was playing together and staying composed and as long as there is still time on the clock, we’re in it. We just have to keep working together.”

The loss drops The Cougars their second loss in a row since their dramatic 60-54 loss Saturday afternoon against the Wingate Bears.

“It was a great game. I can’t really say anything more. It was a great game.” Tohatchi coach Kendall Livingston said. “It was back and forth. They made runs, we made runs, they made key stops, (and) we made key stops. I mean give them all the credit we took it to them, and they took it to us.”

Tohatchi returns to action Feb. 3 at Zuni, while Navajo Prep hosts Crownpoint on Jan. 29. The teams will meet again later in the season at Navajo Prep, where the Cougars will have another chance to contain Lansing and change the outcome.

”In a few weeks we will be traveling to Navajo Prep for us to pull off a win.” Livingston said. We need to execute our game plans flawlessly, we need our shots to fall, and we need our sixth man to line up for 2-3 hours to secure a seat for this matchup.”

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