MONTE VISTA – The Sanford High School boys basketball team, ranked eighth in Class 2A, defeated Sierra Grande, ranked eighth in Class 1A, 53-40 to win the Southern Peaks League Tournament blue bracket Saturday at Monte Vista High School.

Aron Ojeda gave the Panthers the early lead with a 3-point basket. But Travis Canty split at the line and later made a layup to tie the score at 3-3.

Rolando Najera put Sierra Grande back into the lead, but that would be the final time it would be in front. Ben Sittler’s jumper tied the score and Trason Gartrell made back-to-back layups to give the Mustangs a 9-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Joshua Fairhurst increased the lead to 14-5 with a layup and a three. Jadyn Martinez accounted for the Panthers’ first points of the period, but Colter Canty drained a trey and Sittler added two free throws. Travis Canty’s layup gave the Mustangs a 21-7 advantage.

Nehemiah Wilson ended the run, but Sittler knocked down a short jumper. Ben Faucette split at the line, however, Wilson scored in the paint.

Fairhurst split at the line, and Najera drove for a layup. Gartrell made another layup, but Najera made two from the line to cut the Sanford lead to 27-15 at halftime.

Travis Canty scored the first points of the second half, however, Martinez scored seven straight points, and Najera scored a layup to cut the Mustangs’ lead to 29-24.

Gartrell converted a pair of free throws, but Ayden Lopez scored for the Panthers. Colter Canty answered by knocking down a jumper, but Aron Ojeda drove for a layup.

Travis Canty made a pair of free tosses, and Gartrell and Fairhurst both made layups. Najera scored just before time expired, but Sanford led 39-30 at the end of the third quarter.

J.D. Faucette scored the first points of the fourth quarter, but Najera scored again. Gartrell made another layup, followed by two free throws by Travis Canty and a layup by Sittler to extend the lead to 47-32.

Martinez ended the rally with a jumper, and Aron Ojeda followed with a layup. Sittler hit a jumper, and after Najera split at the line, Colter Canty and Fairhurst both scored for a 53-37 advantage.

Aron Ojeda made one of two from the line, and Kayo DeLeon scored to conclude the scoring.

The Mustangs had three players score in double figures. Travis Canty led the way with 11 points, followed by Sittler and Fairhurst both with 10.

The Panthers also had three players reach double figures in scoring. Najera was the top scorer with 13 points, followed by Martinez with 11 and Aron Ojeda with 10.

Both Sanford (18-5) and Sierra Grande (18-5) will host regional tournaments this weekend.

Southern Peaks League Tournament

In other blue bracket games on Saturday, Custer County defeated Centennial 56-55 for seventh place, Del Norte defeated Sangre de Cristo 45-38 for fifth place, and Crested Butte defeated Center 44-30 for third place.

In the gold bracket on Friday, South Park defeated Antonito 26-25 for fifth place, Creede defeated Moffat 48-44 for third place, and Trinidad defeated Sargent 37-29 for the championship.

Sanford 53, Sierra Grande 40

Sanford – B. Faucette 0 1-2 1, Sittler 4 2-2 10, Gartrell 4 2-3 10, C. Canty 3 0-0 7, T. Canty 3 5-6 11, Cary 0 0-0 0, Fairhurst 4 1-2 10, Jones 0 0-0 0, Mortensen 0 0-0 0, J. Faucette 1 0-0 2, McCarroll 0 0-0 0, Keck 0 0-0 0, Larsen 0 0-0 0. Total 19 11-15 53.

3-point goals – C. Canty 1, Fairhurst 1. Total 2.

Sierra Grande – Najera 5 3-4 13, A. Ojeda 4 1-2 10, Martinez 5 0-0 11, A. Lopez 1 0-0 2, C. Lopez 0 0-2 2, Mizokami 0 0-0 0, Wilson 0 0-0 0, Roybal 0 0-0 0. Y. Ojeda 0 0-0 0, DeLeon 1 0-1 2. Total 18 4-9 40.

3-poinr goals – Martinez 1, A. Ojeda 1. Total 2.

Sanford 9 18 12 14 – 53

Sierra Grande 5 10 15 10 – 40

Fouls – Sanford 18, Sierra Grande 17.