SANFORD – The third-ranked Sanford High School girls basketball team earned two wins in the Southern Peaks League Tournament blue bracket earlier this week as it defeated Custer County 48-21 on Tuesday, and Center 53-12 on Thursday.

Both games were played at the SHS gym.

“I always appreciate coach Jan (Vigil) from Center,” said Sanford coach Keith Caldon. “I think he’s a great coach. He coaches those girls hard and I we’re excited for Saturday.”

Sanford 48, Custer County 21

The Mustangs got off to a fast start with layups by Avery Koenig and Brinlyn Smith. Trinity Downing scored the Bobcats’ first points, but Koenig scored again for a 6-2 lead.

Aiden Lyons made a 3-point basket for Custer County, but Koenig answered with back-to-back layups. Lyons hit a jumper, but Koenig scored again to give Sanford a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Jewel Caldon opened the second-quarter scoring, and Smith followed with a layup. Claire Crowther drove for a layup and added a free throw for a 19-7 advantage.

Koenig scored again, and Bella Peterson made a layup for a 23-7 halftime lead.

Crowther opened the second half with a three, but Lyons made a trey on the other end. Koenig split at the line, but Hayden Hampton made a layup.

Makynlee Faucette tallied a pair of free throws and Koenig made a 3-pointer. Lyons made another three, but Faucette made a layup and Crowther her second trey for a 37-15 Sanford lead at the end of the third quarter.

Jelissa Peterson began the fourth-quarter scoring with a layup, but Lewis made a three. Jelissa Peterson made two baskets, Kiera Ruggles one, and Camry Casias made two free throws to increase the lead to 47-18.

Jelissa Peterson split at the line to give the Mustangs their largest lead at 48-18, but Lyons closed out the scoring with a 3-pointer.

Koenig led Sanford with 14 points, followed by Crowther with nine, and Jelissa Peterson with seven.

Lyons was the Bobcats’ top scorer with 14 points.

Sanford 53, Center 12

The Mustangs took off to a fast start with Faucette making one layup and Smith two. Smith later added two free throws, and Koenig drained a 3-point basket for an 11-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Faucette opened the second quarter with a three. Charli Martinez finally put the Vikings on the board with a free throw, and Anahlicia Villagomez scored in the paint. Hayden Peterson made a layup and added a free throw. Kiera Ruggles drove for a layup, and Hayden Peterson made a trey for a 22-3 lead.

Alyciana Lujan made two free throws, but Jewel Caldon scored for the Mustangs. Martinez split at the line but Sanford led 24-6 at halftime.

Crowther began the second-half scoring with a jumper, but Emiliana Valdez made two free throws for Center. Koenig knocked down a jumper, but Camila Miranda made a layup.

Sanford scored the final nine points of the third quarter. Bella Peterson scored three of the points, while Koenig, Smith and Faucette each scored two.

Becklynn Bogner scored the first points of the fourth quarter, however, the Mustangs would score the final 14 points of the game. Jelissa Peterson scored four of them, Koenig and Faucette both scored three, and Jewel Caldon, Crowther and Ruggles each scored two.

Faucette and Koenig both scored 10 points to lead the Mustangs. The Vikings had six players score two points.

What’s next

Sanford (20-1) will play Sargent in the Southern Peaks League Tournament blue bracket championship game today at 6 p.m. at Monte Vista. The Farmers advanced with a 54-27 win over Del Norte on Thursday at Sargent.

“They’re a really well-coached team and have really good players and tough to handle,” coach Caldon said. “We’ll have our hands full.”

Center (13-8) will face Del Norte (12-8) in the tournament's third-place game today at 3 p.m.

Sanford 48, Custer County 21

Custer County – Lewis 1 0-0 3, Hampton 1 0-0 2, Lyons 5 0-0 14, Downey 1 0-0 2, Riding 0 0-0 0, Handy 0 0-0 0, Wisecup 0 0-0 0, Foster 0 0-0 0, Jiminez 0 0-0 0. Total 8 0-0 21.

3-point goals – Lynos 4, Lewis 1. Total 5.

Sanford – Smith 2 0-0 4, Koenig 6 1-2 14, Crowther 3 1-1 9, B. Peterson 2 0-0 4, H. Peterson 0 0-0 0, Je. Caldon 1 0-0 2, Jo. Caldon 0 0-0 0, Faucette 1 2-2 4, Casias 0 2-2 2, J. Peterson 3 1-2 7, Ruggles 1 0-0 2, Larson 0 0-0 0. Total 18 7-9 48.

3-point goals – Crowther 2, Koenig 1. Total 3.

Custer County 7 0 8 6 – 21

Sanford 12 11 14 11 - 48

Fouls – Custer County 11, Sanford 2. Fouled out – Downey.

Sanford 53, Center 12

Center – Villagomez 1 0-0 2, Lujan 0 2-2 2, Chavez 0 0-0 0, Palma 0 0-0 0, E. Valdez 0 2-2 2, Higuera 0 0-0 0, Martinez 0 2-4 2, Garcia 0 0-0 0, Miranda 1 0-0 2, Bogner 1 0-0 2, Tafoya 0 0-0 0, Dominguez 0 0-0 0, S. Valdez 0 0-0 0. Total 3 6-8 12.

3-point goals – none.

Sanford – Smith 3 2-2 8, Koenig 4 0-0 10, Crowther 2 0-2 4, Je. Caldon 1 2-2 4, Faucette 4 0-0 10, B. Peterson 1 1-1 3, H. Peterson 2 1-1 6, J. Peterson 1 2-2 4, Ruggles 2 0-0 4. Total 20 8-10 53.

3-point goals – Faucette 2, Koenig 2, H. Peterson 1. Total 5.

Center 0 6 4 2 – 12

Sanford 11 13 13 16 – 53

Fouls – Center 15, Sanford 13. Fouled out – Chavez.