SANFORD – The eighth-ranked Sanford High School boys basketball team defeated Crested Butte 65-48 in the Southern Peaks League Tournament semifinals Thursday at the SHS gym.

Luke Jennings scored the first points of the game to give Crested Butte the early lead. Travis Canty tied the score and Ben Sittler made two free throws for a 4-2 Mustangs lead.

Adin Kurak sank a 3-point basket to put the Titans back into the lead, but Trason Gartrell drove for a layup. Kurak made another three, but Colter made a layup to tie the score at 8-8.

Kurak split at the line, however, Gartrell scored in the paint again. Colter Canty then made a three to give Sanford a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Eli Hulm made a jumper and added a free throw to begin the second quarter. Travis Canty drove for a layup, but Jennings scored again. Ben Faucette split at the line and he later made a layup and a free throw for a 19-14 lead.

Bridger Flores made a layup, but J.D. Faucette also made a layup and added a free throw. Sittler also scored in the paint to increase the lead to 24-16.

Kurak drilled another trey, but J.D. Faucette accounted for another old-fashioned three-point play. Owen Pugh made a pair of free throws, but Sittler made a 3-pointer to give the Mustangs a 30-21 lead at the intermission.

Gartrell opened the second half with a layup, but Kurak knocked down a jumper. Hulm then split at the line, but Gartreell hit a short jumper for a 34-24 lead.

Kurak buried another three, but so did Sittler. Kurak buried a jumper, but Sittler made another trey for a 40-29 advantage.

Kurak made another jumper, but Sanford scored the final 13 points of the quarter. Colter Canty drained a three, and Travis Canty, Gartrell, Sittler, Joshua Fairhurst and J.D. Faucette each scored two points.

Sanford led 53-31 at the end of the period.

Cahl Larsen opened the fourth quarter with a layup, but Kurak answered with a 3-pointer. Gartrell and Jared McCarroll both made layups. Flores made two free tosses, but Sittler knocked down a jumper.

Flores made two more from the line, and Pugh drove for a layup. Gartrell scored again, but Hulm made a three.

Ben Faucette made a layup, but Kurak drained another trey. Jennings split at the line to wrap up the scoring.

Gartrell and Sittler both scored 14 points to lead the Mustangs, followed by Colter Canty and J.D. Faucette both with eight.

Kurak led the Titans with 25 points.

Sanford now has a record of 17 wins and five losses.

Southern Peaks League tourney

The tournament started on Tuesday. In the first round in the gold bracket, Trinidad defeated Antonito 67-23, Moffat defeated Lake City 56-43, and Sargent defeated South Park 37-32. Creede drew a bye.

In the consolation semifinals on Thursday, South Park defeated Lake City 49-28. Antonito drew a bye. In the semifinals, Trinidad defeated Creede 43-19, and Sargent defeated Moffat 45-22.

The gold bracket tournament ended on Friday at Monte Vista. Antonito faced South Park in the consolation championship, Creede took on Moffat for third place, and Trinidad played Sargent in the championship.

Scores were unavailable at press time.

In the first round of the blue bracket on Tuesday, Sierra Grande defeated Centennial 35-30, Center defeated Sangre de Cristo 49-43, Crested Butte defeated Custer County 52-46, and Sanford defeated Del Norte 51-37.

In the consolation semifinals on Thursday, Sangre de Cristo defeated Centennial 49-22, and Del Norte defeated Custer County 41-38. In the other semifinal game, Sierra Grande defeated Center 54-43.

The tournament ends today at Monte Vista. Centennial will play Custer County for seventh place, Sangre de Cristo will face Del Norte in the consolation championship, Center will take on Crested Butte for third place, and Sanford will play Sierra Grande in the championship.

Sanford 65, Crested Butte 48

Crested Butte – L. Jennings 2 1-2 5, Kurak 9 2-3 25, Fischer 0 0-0 0, Hulm 2 1-2 7, Flores 1 5-6 7, Pugh 1 2-3 4, Crabtree 0 0-0 0, I. Jennings 0 0-0 0. Total 15 11-16 48.

3-point goals – Kurak 5, Hulm 2. Total 7.

Sanford – B. Faucette 2 2-4 6, Sittler 4 4-4 14, Gartrell 7 0-2 14, C. Canty 3 0-0 8, T. Canty 3 0-0 6, Fairhurst 1 0-0 2, J. Faucette 3 2-2 8, McCarroll 1 0-0 2, Keck 0 0-0 0, Larsen 1 0-0 2. Total 25 8-12 65.

3-point goals – C. Canty 2, Sittler 2. Total 4.

Crested Butte 9 12 10 17 – 48

Sanford 13 17 23 12 – 65

Fouls – Crested Butte 13, Sanford 17.