MOSCA – The Sangre de Cristo boys basketball team had a strong second half in its game Tuesday against Sargent Farmers.

The Thunderbirds had a double-digit lead late in the game, only to see the Farmers attempt a comeback. But Sangre was able to hold off the Sargent charge as it won by a score of 36-31.

The Farmers got off to a quick start as Fernando Venzor hit a 3-point basket and Cadyn Wright followed with a layup. Ezra Lopez put the Thunderbirds on the board with a three, but Lucas Garcia hit a jumper for a 7-3 lead.

Lopez closed out the first-quarter scoring with a jump shot and Sargent had a 7-5 lead.

Kade Temple opened the second quarter with a layup, but Deagon Rogers’ trey cut the Sargent lead to 9-8. Lopez then hit his second 3-pointer to give Sangre an 11-9 lead.

Garcia tied the score, but Rogers made a jumper just as time expired and Sangre led 13-11 at halftime.

Lopez began the third quarter with his third trey, and Kolby Shellabarger made two free throws to extend the lead to 20-11. But Garcia scored a layup and added a free throw, and Corbin Castillo made a free throw to cut the Thunderbirds’ lead to 20-15 at the end of the third quarter.

Lopez made a jumper, and Brody Artaechevarria made two free throws to open the fourth quarter. Shellabarger then split at the free throw line and then scored a layup to give the Thunderbirds a 27-15 advantage.

Temple and Wright both scored to close the deficit to 27-19, but Rogers nailed a jumper to push the lead to 29-19.

Mitchell Peterson and Venzor both scored in the paint, and Garcia made one of two free throws to cut the l3ead to 29-24. Shellabarger split at the charity stripe, but Temple drained a trey to bring the Farmers within 30-27.

Rogers made a free throw, and Shellabarger two more. Josh Baker then buried a 3-pointer to expand the lead to 36-27.

Venzor and Temple both made two free throws, but it was too little, too late for the Farmers.

Lopez led the Thunderbirds with 13 points, followed by Rogers and Shellabarger both with eight.

Temple was the Farmers’ top scorer with nine points, followed by Garcia and Venzor both with seven.

Sangre de Cristo (3-1) will host Walsenburg on Friday.

Sargent (1-3) will play at the Cedaredge Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

Sangre de Cristo 36, Sargent 31

Sargent – Peterson 1 0-0 2, Wright 2 0-0 4, Temple 3 2-4 9, Venzor 2 2-2 7, Garcia 3 1-8 7, Beiriger 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0-0 0, Castillo 0 1-4 1, Medina 0 1-2 1. Total 11 7-20 31.

3-point goals – Temple 1, Venzor 1. Total 2.

Sangre de Cristo – Rogers 3 1-3 8, Shellabarger 1 6-8 8, J. Mason 0 0-0 0, Lopez 5 0-0 13, Artaechevarria 1 2-2 4, K. Mason 0 0-0 0, T. Baker 0 0-0 0, J. Baker 1 0-0 3. Total 11 9-13 36.

3-point goals – Lopez 3, J. Baker 1, Rogers 1. Total 5.

Sargent 7     4     4 16 – 31

Sangre de Cristo 5     8     7 16 – 36

Fouls – Sargent 14, Sangre de Cristo 19. Fouled out – Garcia.