Basketball Recap: Nathan Simplicio's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Zuni over Tohatchi

Zuni lost against Tohatchi back in January, and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. The Zuni Thunderbirds came up short against the Tohatchi Cougars, falling 80-55. While losing is never fun, the Thunderbirds can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' New Mexico basketball rankings (they are ranked 94th, while the Cougars are ranked 25th).

Nathan Simplicio

Points

02/21/25 @ Tohatchi	14
02/19/25 @ Newcomb	8
02/15/25 vs Thoreau	9
02/14/25 vs Crownpoint	9
02/12/25 vs Navajo Prep	7
+ 9 more games

Zuni's loss came despite a true team effort with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Nathan Simplicio, who dropped a double-double with 14 points and ten boards. That's the most points Simplicio has posted since back in January. The team also got some help courtesy of Deron Lastyano, who almost dropped a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Even though they lost, Zuni smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in 17 consecutive contests.

Josh Dawes continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines for Tohatchi, to rack up 30 points along with eight assists and five boards. Dawes is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed three or more in each of the last three games he's played. Kyle Yazzie was another key player, putting up 23 points and five rebounds.

Zuni's defeat dropped their record down to 14-12. As for Tohatchi, the victory was the 16th in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 24-2.

Zuni didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next matchup, a 68-42 win against Newcomb on the 25th. Tohatchi does not have any more games scheduled as of now.