MONTE VISTA – The top-ranked Sanford High School boys basketball team had to come from behind in order to defeat Sierra Grande 44-41 to take home the Southern Peaks League Tournament blue bracket championship.

Jadyn Martinez gave the Panthers the early lead with a layup, but Cahl Larsen, Colter Canty and Travis Canty all scored to give the Mustangs a 6-2 lead.

Nehemiah Wilson made a layup for Sierra Grande, but Joshua Fairhurst made a layup, and Trason Gartrell two baskets for a 14-4 Mustangs lead at the end of the first quarter.

Joshua Fairhurst scored to begin the second quarter, but Rolando Najera made a layup and added a free throw. Martinez then made a 3-point basket to cut the deficit to 16-10.

Travis Canty and Gartrell both split at the free throw line, but Martinez did the same. Najera and Martinez both made two free throws to bring the Panthers within 18-15.

Larsen made a layup, and Gartrell made one of two free throws. However, Sierra Grande applied a press and got two baskets by Martinez, and one each from Najera and Wilson to take a 23-21 lead at halftime.

Gartrell opened the second half with a layup to tie the score. However, Martinez made two straight layups for s 27-23 lead.

Colter Canty made two of three free throws, but Wilson made two from the line. Gartrell also made two free throws and later a layup to deadlock the score at 29-29.

Najera put the Panthers back on top, but J.D. Faucette split at the line. Carlos Lopez made a jumper and added a free throw for a 34-30 Panthers lead.

Joshua Fairhurst and Najera both split at the line and the Panther had a 35-31 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Larsen began the fourth quarter with a layup, and Ben Faucette made a 3-pointer to put Sanford back into the lead at 36-35. Gartrell made a layup, and Travis Canty made one of three free throws for a 39-35 lead.

Colter Canty made one of two from the line, and Gartrell and Larsen both made layups to push the lead to 44-35.

Sierra Grande made a late charge and got two baskets by Martinez and one by Wilson. The Panthers set up for a game-tying three, but Martinez’s attempt was blocked at the buzzer.

Gartrell led Sanford with 16 points, followed by Larsen with 10.

Martinez was Sierra Grande’s top scorer with 20 points, followed by Najera with 10.

Both teams will be in their respective state tournaments this weekend.

Sanford (21-1) will host Ridgway at 5:30 p.m. in the Class 2A State Tournament. Sierra Grande (18-5) will travel to Denver on Friday to face Caliche in the Class 1A Tournament.

Other games

In other games in the blue bracket on Saturday, Sangre de Cristo defeated Custer County 53-45 for third place, Crested Butte took fifth place with a 43-39 win over Center, and Trinidad defeated Centennial for seventh, 50-41.

In the gold bracket of Friday, Del Norte won the bracket with a 44-31 win over Sargent, Moffat won third with a 38-35 victory over Creede, and South Park defeated Lake City for seventh, 62-29.

Sanford 44, Sierra Grande 41

Sierra Grande – Najera 3 4-5 10, Martinez 8 3-4 20, Wilson 3 2-2 8, Lopez 1 1-1 3, Estrada 0 0-0 0, Ojeda 0 0-0 0, Cochran 0 0-0 0, Dabney 0 0-0 0. Total 15 10-12 41.

3-point goals – Martinez 1. Total 1.

Sanford – B. Faucette 1 0-0 3, Gartrell 6 4-6 16, C. Canty 1 3-7 5, T. Canty 1 2-5 4, Larsen 5 0-2 10, Jo. Fairhurst 2 1-2 5, J. Faucette 0 1-2 1, J. McCarroll 0 0-0 0. Total 16 11-24 44.

3-point goals – B. Faucette 1. Total 1.

Sierra Grande  4 19 12 6 – 41

Sanford 14 7 10 13 – 44

Fouls – Sierra Grande 17, Sanford 17. Fouled out – Lopez.