Photos by Ken Hamrick Sanford High School's Collin Stagner (3) makes a move to the basket against Yuma in the Class 2A State Tournament championship game Saturday in Loveland. Sanford lost the game 59-43. Sanford High School's Kelton Gartrell (22) puts up a shot against Yuma in the Class 2A State Tournament championship game Saturday in Loveland. Sanford lost 59-43.

LOVELAND — It was battle of Indians in the Class 2A State Tournament championship game as the Sanford High School boys basketball team faced Yuma — both having the Indian mascot.

However, this game would belong to the Yuma Indians as they defeated Sanford 59-43 Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center.

Collin Stagner put Sanford on top early with a 3-point basket. Forest Rutledge scored in the paint for Yuma’s first points, but Cash Caldon drained a three to give Sanford its largest lead of the game at 6-2.

Jesus Ross scored for Yuma, but McCray Larsen knocked down a jumper to give Sanford an 8-4 edge.

Rutledge buried a trey and Clay Robinson scored a layup to put Yuma in front at 9-8. McCray Larsen hit another short jumper, but Robinson made another layup to give Yuma an 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Robinson scored two more baskets to increase Yuma’s lead to 15-10. Caldon made another 3-pointer, but Robinson scored five points and Kobe Rayl scored two to push the Yuma lead to 22-13.

Kelton Gartrell made two free throws, but Robinson made two free throws and Beau Tate made two baskets. Caldon made his third three of the game, but Tate scored again to give Yuma a 30-18 advantage at halftime.

Robinson began the third quarter with a three. Gartell made two more free throws, but Rutledge made a 3-pointer and Robinson hit a jumper for a 39-20 lead.

Stagner made a pair from the line, but Yuma made two out of four free throws late in the third for a 43-22 lead at the end of the period.

Yuma took its largest lead of the game at 57-31 with 3:01 to play. Sanford outscored Yuma 12-2 in the final three minutes with McCray Larsen scoring six points and Ethan Larsen and Caldon both scoring three.

Caldon was Sanford’s leading scorer with 15 points, followed by McCray Larsen with 12.

Robinson led Yuma with 23 points and Tate scored 14.

Sanford had a final record of 22 wins and five losses.

Yuma 59, Sanford 43

Sanford – Stagner 2 2-4 7, Caldon 5 1-1 15, Gartrell 0 4-4 4, M. Larsen 5 2-2 12, E. Larsen 1 3-6 5, Sittler 0 0-0 0, McCarroll 0 0-0 0. Total 13 12-17 43.

3-point goals – Caldon 4, Stagner 1. Total 5.

Yuma – Ross 2 0-0 5, Gamboa 1 1-2 3, Tate 6 2-3 14, Robinson 9 4-8 23, Rutledge 3 0-0 8, Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Carrillo 0 0-0 0, Lungwith 1 0-0 2, Haruf 0 0-0 0, Rayl 1 0-0 2, Varela 0 0-0 0, Escobar 1 0-0 2, A. Baucke 0 0-0 0, S. Baucke 0 0-0 0. Total 24 7-13 59.

3-point goals – Rutledge 2, Robinson 1, Ross 1. Total 4.

Sanford           10        8          4          21 – 43

Yuma               11        19        13        16 – 59

Fouls – Sanford 13, Yuma 19.