SANFORD – The second-ranked Sanford High School boys basketball team began the Southern Peaks League Tournament blue bracket with a pair of wins earlier this week at the SHS gym.

The Mustangs first defeated Centennial 67-22 on Tuesday. They then avenged their only loss of the season on Thursday as they defeated Custer County 54-41.

“They guys were motivated tonight,” said Sanford coach Brice Crowther. “They wanted to get some revenge for sure.”

Sanford 67, Centennial 22

Zach Jacquez gav e the Rams the early lead with a free throw. However, that would prove to be their only lead and it didn’t last long.

Colter Canty put the Mustangs into the lead with a jumper. Ben Faucette then made a 3-point basket for a 5-1 lead.

Jared McCarroll made two baskets, and Colter Canty, Trason Gartrell and Joshua Fairhurst each made one as Sanford led 15-1 after the first quarter.

Travis Canty began the second quarter by splitting at the line. Colter Canty made another layup and added a free throw for a 19-1 advantage.

Josh Duran ended the Sanford run with a jumper, but Ben Faucette made another three. J.D. Faucette then made two free throws to increase the lead to 24-3.

Josiah Rael made the Ram’ only three of the night. But J.D. Faucette made a layup, Cahl Larsen two free throws, and Ben Faucette his third trey of the game and Sanford led 31-6 at halftime.

Larsen opened the second half with a layup, but Duran and Michael Gonzales both scored for Centennial. Colter Canty hit another jumper, but Jacquez scored in the paint.

The Mustangs scored the final 18 points of the quarter. Travis Canty made two 3-pointers, Joshua Fairhurst scored four points, and Gartrell, Larsen, and Jared McCarroll all scored two and Sanford had a 53-12 lead at the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter was played under a running clock and Crowther inserted his back-ups. The Mustangs still managed to score 14 points with Ryan McCarroll scoring six of them. Tyson Jones scored four, and Colton Reynolds and Jayden Fairhurst two.

The Rams scored 10 points in the fourth. Jacquez and Josiah Rael both scored four, and Aaron Salcido two.

Sanford had a well-balanced offensive attack which was led by Ben Faucette and Colter Canty both with nine.

Josiah Rael led Centennial with seven.

Sanford 54, Custer County 41

Larsen got the Mustangs off to a good start with a layup, and Travis Canty also scored in the paint. Grant Rusk made a 3-point basket for the Bobcats’ first points, but Ben Faucette made a three for Sanford.

Colter Canty split at the line, and Gartrell made back-to-back baskets for a 12-3 lead.

Rusk ended the Mustangs; run with a jumper, and Kal Tunnell made a free throw. Tunnell also made a layup, as did Mason Simmons to close the Mustangs’ lead to 12-10.

Gartrell ended the rally with a trey, but Rusk scored just as time expired and Sanford led 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.

McCarroll scored the first points of the second quarter, and Larsen and Colter Canty both scored to push the lead to 21-12. Tunnell and Brayden Baker both split at the line, but Ben Faucette made one of two free throws, and he then tipped in his own miss.

Creed Ingram split at the line, as did McCarroll and Sanford led 25-15 at the intermission.

Larsen opened the second half by splitting at the line. Travis Canty and Larsen both made layups to increase the advantage to 30-15.

Tunnell made a jumper and a free throw, but Travis Canty answered with a 3-pointer. Robert Bachman made back-to-back threes, but Travis Canty came back with another trey.

Ingram knocked down a jumper, but Larsen made a layup, and Gartrell made back-to-back baskets for a 42-26 advantage.

Rusk made a layup and later two free throws, but J.D. Faucette split at the line and the Mustangs had a 43-30 lead at the end of the third period.

Simmons began the fourth quarter with a jumper, but Ben Faucette knocked down a jumper on the other end. Larsen made two free throws, and Gartrell drove for a layup.

Rusk made a layup for the Bobcats, but Gartrell answered with another basket. Rusk made a 3-pointer, but Travis Canty split at the line.

Bachman also split at the line, but Ben Faucette hit a jumper. Simmons made a three to wrap up the scoring,

Gartrell led the Mustangs with 15 points, followed by Travis Canty and Larsen with 11 apiece, and Ben Faucette with 10.

Rusk was the Bobcats’ top scorer with 16 points.

What’s next

Sanford (20-1) will play Sierra Grande for the tournament championship today at 7:30 p.m. at Monte Vista. The Panthers defeated Sangre de Cristo 56-46 Thursday in Blanca.

“The one time we saw Sierra Grande was before Christmas,” Crowther said. “I’m sure they’ve grown a lot and we’ve grown a lot. It will be a fun game.”

Sanford 67, Centennial 22

Centennial – Jacquez 3 1-5 5, Gonzales 0 0-0 0, Jo. Rael 3 0-0 7, Duran 2 0-0 4, Salcido 1 0-0 2, Je. Rael 0 0-0 0, Casias 0 0-0 0, Payne 0 0-0 0. Total 9 1-5 22.

3-point goals – Jo. Rael 1. Total 1.

Sanford – Jo. Fairhurst 2 2-2 6, B. Faucette 3 0-0 9, Gartrell 2 0-0 4, C. Canty 4 1-1 9, J. Faucette 1 2-4 4, J., McCarroll 3 0-0 6, T. Canty 2 0-0 6, Larsen 2 2-2 6, R. McCarroll 3 0-0 6, Ja. Fairhurst 1 0-0 2, Reynolds 1 0-0 2, Jones 2 0-0 4, Mortensen 0 2-2 2, Miller 0 0-2 0. Total 24 7-11 67.

3-point goals – B. Faucette 3, T. Canty 2. Total 5.

Centennial 1 5 6 10 – 22

Sanford 15 16 22 14 – 67

Fouls – Centennial 10, Sanford 5. Technical foul – Sanford (illegal participation).

Sanford 54, Custer County 41

Custer County – Rusk 6 2-2 16, Bachman 2 1-2 7, Simmons 3 0-0 7, Tunnell 2 3-6 7, McCoy 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 1-2 1, Ingram 1 1-2 3, Stoltzfus 0 0-0 0. Total 14 8-14 41.

3-point goals – Bachman 2, Rusk 2, Simmons 1. Total 5.

Sanford – B. Faucette 4 1-2 10, Gartrell 7-0-1 15, C. Canty 1 1-2 3, T. Canty 4 1-2 11, Larsen 4 3-4 11, Jo. Fairhurst 0 0-0 0, Mortensen 0 0-0 0, J. Faucette 0 1-2 1, J. McCarroll 0 1-2 1. Total 20 8-15 54.

Custer County 12 3 15 11 – 41

Sanford 15 10 18 11 – 54

Fouls – Custer County 16, Sanford 16.