SANFORD – The third-ranked Sanford High School boys basketball team had a tough time when it hosted Crested Butte Saturday at the SHS gym in the Southern Peaks League opener for both teams.

The Titans kept hanging around, but in the long run, the Mustangs were able to hold off the visitors for a 42-35 win.

“Crested Butte played really well,” said Sanford coach Brice Crowther. “They were hitting shots, we were having a hard time defending and they did a good job.”

Colter Canty made two free throws, and later split at the line for a 3-0 Sanford lead. Tyus Fischer scored in the paint and Bennett Crabtree scored made a layup to give the Titans a 4-3 lead.

Cahl Larson put the Mustangs back in front, but Fischer made a 3-point basket. A free throw by Colter Canty cut the Crested Butte lead to 7-6, but Joshua Fairhurst made a three to put Sanford back into the lead at 9-7.

Crabtree split at the line, but Trason Gartrell made two free tosses. Isaac Jennings made two free throws for the Titans, but Gartrell scored with 23 seconds left to give the Mustangs a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Fischer opened the second-quarter scoring with a layup, but Gartrell and Travis Canty both split at the line. Fischer made back-to-back jumpers to give the Titans a 16-15 lead.

Travis Canty and Gartrell both made layups, and Gartrell made two from the line to give Sanford a 21-16 advantage at halftime.

Crabtree scored to open the second half, but Colter Canty knocked down a jumper. Travis Canty then drained a 3-pointer for a 26-18 lead.

Owen Pugh made back-to-back layups and Jennings also scored in the paint to cut the Sanford lead to 26-24. But Colter Canty and Fairhurst both made two free throws to push the lead to 30-24 at the end of the third quarter.

Fairhurst scored the first points of the third quarter, and J.D. Faucette made a layup and later two free throws for a double-digit lead at 36-24.

However, Jennings and Fischer both made treys to bring the Titans within 36-30.

Travis Canty made two free throws, and Larsen a layup for a 40-30 lead. But Fischer made his third 3-pointer to cut the lead to 40-33.

Travis Canty scored with 41 seconds left in the game. Jennings made a layup with 23 seconds remaining, but that would be as close as Crested Butte would come.

Travis Canty led the Mustangs in scoring with 11 points, followed by Gartrell with nine, Colter Canty with eight, and Fairhurst with seven.

Fischer led all scorers with 19 points.

Sanford (9-0, 1-0) hosted Buena Vista on Tuesday. It will go on the road to face Fowler on Friday and Custer County on Saturday.

Sanford 42, Crested Butte 35

Crested Butte – Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Crabtree 1 1-2 3, Pugh 2 0-0 4, Fischer 8 0-2 19, Jennings 3 2-2 9, Bacani 0 0-0 0, Colucci 0 0-0 0, Kurak 0 0-0 0, Harpel 0 0-0 0. Total 14 3-6 35.

3-point goals – Fischer 3, Jennings 1. Total 4.

Sanford – B. Faucette 0 0-0 0, Gartrell 2 5-6 9, C. Canty 1 6-8 8, T. Canty 4 3-4 11, Larsen 2 0-0 4, Fairhurst 2 2-2 7, Mortensen 0 0-0 0, J. Faucette 1 2-2 4, J. McCarroll 0 0-0 0. Total 12 18-22 42.

3-point goals – T. Canty 1, Fairhurst 1. Total 2.

Crested Butte 10 6 8 11 – 35

Sanford 13 8 9 12 – 42

Fouls – Crested Butte 21, Sanford 14. Fouled out – Mitchell.