Tohatchi dominates Wingate in 74-44 win, avenges earlier loss

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

TOHATCHI, N.M. – Sophomore guard Myles Candelaria scored 18 points, and senior guard Deandre Rios tallied 16 points to lead the Tohatchi Cougars to a huge 74-44 win over the Wingate Bears on Saturday afternoon, avenging a loss to the Bears earlier this season.

Senior guard Darium Peshlakai finished with 13 points and senior center Myka Candelaria chipped in 10 to give Tohatchi four players in double figures.

“We came out a lot more aggressive defensively,” Tohatchi coach Kendall Livingston said. “We’ve been pushing a lot of man-to-man defenses recently which is what we’ve been trying to focus on right now.”

Sophomore forward Coy Holyan led Wingate with 16 points while junior guard Matthew Whitehair added 14. Juniors Jaridan Sam, Zefferino Flores and Corey Charley combined for six points and junior Malcom Begaye added three.

Tohatchi opened with a 6-0 run before Whitehair hit a 3-pointer for Wingate’s first points. Rios powered the first quarter with nine points while Peshlakai added five as the Cougars built a 22-7 lead after one.

Tohatchi widened the gap in the second quarter behind Myles Candelaria, who scored 10 of his 18 points in the period. Myka Candelaria added four points and the Cougars’ defense held the Bears to just three out of eight free throws. Tohatchi outscored Wingate 18-3 in the quarter to take a commanding 40-10 halftime lead.

“They were calling out their switches and making sure no one was left alone. They were making contested 3’s and making sure they were a good shot for them. We did that well tonight and the boys really came out. It was clear they wanted this game.” Livingston said about the dominant first half.

Wingate then started to show life in the third quarter, as they managed to outscore Tohatchi 19-17. Peshlakai led the Cougars with six points while Myles Candelaria and Isaiah Rodriguez each scored four. Whitehair and Holyan paced the Bears with six points apiece, trimming the deficit to 52-29 heading into the fourth.

Tohatchi closed the game steadily, outscoring Wingate 22-15 in the final quarter. Holyan managed to put up nine points for the Bears, while Sam scored four and Flores added two. Rios scored six points in the period while Myka Candelaria added four and Jeffrey Leonard knocked down a 3-pointer for Tohatchi to cap the 74-44 victory.

“This game was one we circled on the schedule. We had to get this one back and we did.” Livingston said. “Now we go into a short break before going back out on Monday, then on Tuesday we head to Navajo Prep which has a big circle around it on the schedule.”

He then closed out saying: “We’re going to keep the same intensity but make sure we stay healthy and focused. We’re starting to hit our stride.”

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Tohatchi is at 20-5 overall and sitting second in District 1-3A play at 9-2. District leader Navajo Prep (21-3, 10-0) will host Tohatchi on Tuesday. The Wingate Bears will host the Crownpoint Eagles on the same day before closing the season out at the Newcomb Skyhawks on Thursday.

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