Gallup boys survive Tohatchi rally to reach invitational final

Gallup advanced to the championship game of the 82nd Annual Gallup Bengal Boys Basketball Invitational after a tense 63-60 semifinal victory over Tohatchi on Jan. 10. The Bengals will meet Cortez, which rolled past Piedra Vista 67-39 in the top half of the bracket, in the title game scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The semifinal at Gallup High drew a packed house and a swing of momentum that kept the gym on edge. With just under four minutes remaining Gallup led 58-46 after an old-fashioned 3-point play by senior guard Jayson Bruner with 3:55 left. A handful of fans had already begun to head for the exits when Tohatchi mounted a furious comeback.

Tohatchi scored 10 straight points in roughly two minutes, sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from senior Deandre Rios and sophomore Myles Candeleria. Rios closed the run with two made free throws that cut the lead to 58-56 with 1:35 remaining. The Cougars rallied despite losing senior post Myka Candeleria and senior guard Darium Peshlakai during the game.

Gallup leaned on its senior leadership to withstand the late surge. Bruner finished with 23 points, including three three-pointers. Senior Joshua Keeto added 15 points, while junior Desean Six contributed eight. Jeremias Cleveland was also cited among the players who made key plays down the stretch as the Bengals protected the lead in the final possessions.

The win keeps Gallup in the hunt for tournament hardware and gives the team momentum heading deeper into the season. For Tohatchi, the comeback effort underscored the program’s resilience and depth, even as it fell short in the closing minutes. Cortez’s decisive semifinal win sets up a title matchup between two confident squads, with local bragging rights and the early-season tournament crown on the line.

Beyond the scoreboard, the semifinal showcased why the Bengal Invitational remains a centerpiece of Gallup High’s winter calendar: large crowds, close rivalry games, and community energy that lifts players and coaches alike. Coach Ryan Becenti’s insistence that the game is not over until the clock reads all zeros proved prescient as fans learned the hard way that late leads can evaporate.

The takeaway? Stick around for the final buzzer and back the kids who play for our town. Support at games matters and can be the difference between a nervous final minute and a manageable finish.