MONTE VISTA – The third-ranked Sanford High School girls basketball team had to withstand a late charge by fourth-ranked Sargent to take a 39-34 win for the Southern Peaks League Tournament blue bracket championship.

Avery Koenig put the Mustangs on the board first, but Kimmy Pargin tied the score. Her twin sister, Kandace, made two free throws to give the Farmers a 4-2 lead.

Jewel Caldon split at the line, but Kandace Pargin scored again. Brinlyn Smith made one of two free throws, but Kandace Pargin made a 3-point basket for a 9-4 Sargent lead.

Claire Crowther hit a short jumper, and Koenig made two from then line. Angelise Garcia made a layup and later two free throws. Mikasa Gilleland split at the line to give the Farmers a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Makynlee Faucette opened the second quarter with a layup, and she later made two free throws. Hayden Peterson made one of two from the line, and Faucette hit a jumper to put the Mustangs back into the lead at 15-14.

Denver Holman split a pair of free throws to tie the score, but Crowther knocked down a jumper. Faucette made one of two free tosses, but Kandace Pargin did the same.

Crowther scored in the paint, but Garcia made one of two free throws. Jelissa Peterson made two free throws for a 22-17 Sanford lead at halftime.

Crowther began the second half with a layup and a free throw. Kandace Pargin made one of two from the line, but smith buried a three and Faucette drove for a layup. Jewel Caldon made one of two free throws, and Bella Peterson made a layup for a 33-18 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Kimmy Pargin made two charity shots to start the fourth quarter, but Bella Peterson and Smith both scored to give the Mustangs their largest lead at 37-20.

Sargent then got back into the game thanks to a full-court press. Garcia made a layup and a 3-pointer, and Holman made a layup to cut the lead to 37-27. Gilleland split at the line to reduce the deficit to single digits.

Kandace Pargin and Garcia both made layups to bring the Farmers within 37-32. Smith ended the run with a layup with 42 seconds to play. Kimmy Pargin made two free throws with 16 seconds left to end the scoring.

Crowther and Faucette led a well-balanced Sanford offensive attack with nine points apiece, followed by Smith with eight.

Garcia was Sargent’s leading scorer with 12 points, followed by Kandace Pargin with 12.

Both teams will host opening Class 2A State Tournaments this weekend.

Sanford (21-1) will host Ridgway at 4 p.m. on Friday, while Sargent (19-3) will host Vail Mountain Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Other games

Also in the blue bracket on Saturday, Del Norte defeated Center 32-27 for third place, Trinidad defeated Crested Butte for fifth, 32-24, and Custer County won seventh by defeating Creede, 33-25.

In the gold bracket on Friday, Sangre de Cristo defeated Centennial 36-33 for first, South Park defeated Moffat 36-27 for third, and Antonito won seventh with a 39-16 win over Lake City.

Sanford 39, Sargent 34

Sargent – Garcia 4 3-6 12, Holman 1 1-2 3, Ka. Pargin 3 4-6 11, Ki. Pargin 1 4-4 6, Gilleland 0 2-6 2, Harmon 0 0-0 0, Ullery 0 0-0 0. Total 9 14-24 34.

3-point goals – Garcia, Ka. Pargin.

Sanford – Smith 3 1-2 8, Crowther 4 1-1 9, Je. Caldon 0 2-6 2, Faucette 3 3-4 9, Koenig 1 2-2 4, B. Peterson 2 0-0 4, H. Peterson 0 1-2 1, J. Peterson 0 2-2 2, Ruggles 0 0-0 0. Total 13 12-19 39.

3-point goals – Smith 1. Total 1.

Sargent 14 3 1 16 – 34

Sanford 8 14 11 6 – 39

Fouls – Sargent 19, Sanford 22. Fouled out – Holman, H. Peterson.