Thoreau comes back to beat Rehoboth in a thriller

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

REHOBOTH, N.M.

Rehoboth Christian School entered Friday’s game with something to prove.

After an emotional loss to Tohatchi in Saturday’s Rehoboth Christian School Boys Basketball Tournament Championship game and a road win over Crownpoint earlier in the week, the Lynx sought redemption at home.

However, senior guard Stetson Perry and the Thoreau Hawks had other plans. It erased a 14-point deficit to secure a hard-fought 51-41 victory.

Perry led the Hawks with a stellar 21-point performance, including clutch plays late in the game. Rehoboth senior center Kristian Touchine delivered an impressive 23-point effort but fouled out in the final moments, leaving the Lynx unable to recover as Thoreau outscored them 48-24 over the last three quarters.

Rehoboth came out firing on all cylinders, building a commanding 17-3 lead with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter. Touchine dominated early, scoring 10 points while going 2-for-4 from the free-throw line. Jonah Jones contributed five points, including an opening 3-pointer.

Thoreau struggled to find its rhythm initially but closed the quarter on a 6-0 run sparked by junior guard Elijah Becenti, narrowing the gap to 18-9 at the break.

Thoreau adjusted in the second quarter, switching to a full-court press that rattled Rehoboth’s ball movement and forced turnovers. Perry found his groove, sinking a deep 3-pointer early in the quarter and finishing the quarter with eight points, including a perfect 2-for-2 from the line and another three in the closing seconds.

Rebounding issues began to plague Rehoboth, and Touchine was held to just six points in the quarter. Thoreau chipped away at the deficit, trailing 26-21 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Perry light up the scoreboard again, sinking a 3-pointer from “Gilbert Ortega’s vacant parking lot,” as fans joked.

The Hawks’ relentless press disrupted Rehoboth’s offense, particularly with junior guard Trajen West absent from the Lynx lineup. Touchine carried the load for Rehoboth with six points, but the Lynx were limited to just eight points in the quarter.

Coach Kevin Zwiers reflected on West’s absence after the game. “We are a team despite the absence of a player,” the Rehoboth coach said. “We have other guys that can step up. The problem was I didn’t prepare them for this game.”

With 1:23 left in the third, Perry’s deep three gave Thoreau their first lead of the game at 32-31. The teams traded baskets, but Rehoboth clung to a narrow 35-32 advantage heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Hawks’ defense tightened, holding Rehoboth to just six points. Perry tied the game at 35-35 with another deep three just a minute into the quarter. Rehoboth senior Matthew Olguin briefly gave the Lynx hope with a 3-pointer and a jump shot, scoring five of the team’s six points in the quarter.

However, junior guard Jordan Calladitto hit a critical 3-pointer that put Thoreau up 42-39 with under five minutes remaining—a lead they would never relinquish.

Touchine fouled out in the final minute after committing three straight fouls in desperation to stop the clock. Thoreau capitalized on free throws, with junior forward Christopher Largo, Perry, and Calladitto combining to seal the game. The Hawks outscored Rehoboth 19-6 in the final frame, securing a 51-41 win.

Thoreau head coach LaShonda Jones-Shorty praised her team’s resilience and adjustments. “They weren’t playing the Thoreau type of game in the first quarter. We press very well, and we didn’t do that early,” she said. “Once the boys settled down, they were able to be patient on offense and take smart shots.”

Zwiers reflected on his team’s performance, “We need to go back to work and get ready. I’ve got some work to do, and that’s it. This game was on me for not preparing our guys.”

Rehoboth (3-3) will travel to face the 4A Grants Pirates (3-2) on Dec. 19, while Thoreau (3-2) will host the Truth or Consequences Hot Springs Tigers (2-3) on Saturday afternoon.

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