BLANCA – The fifth-ranked Sierra Grande High School boys basketball team left little doubt about its high ranking on Friday as it defeated Creede 67-18 at the Panthers’ gym.

Jadyn Martinez scored two baskets and Aron Ojeda one to give the Panthers an early 6-0 lead. Tyler Sliwkowski scored the Miners’ first points, but Ojeda scored six points, Rolando Najera three and Ayden Lopez one to give Sierra Grande a 16-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Kobe Mizokami made a 3-point basket for the first scoring of the second quarter, and Martinez split at the free throw line for a 20-2 lead. Greyson O’Hare drained a three for the Miners, but Martinez scored three points and Najera and Ojeda both scored two as the Panthers increased the lead to 27-5.

Jaxson Fazio made a trey for Creede, but Carlo Lopez made a 3-pointer for Sierra Grande. The Panthers scored the final 16 points of the quarter with Martinez scoring seven of them. Carlos Lopez scored three, and Ojeda, Mizokami and Kayo DeLeon all scored two points in the run.

Sierra Grande led 43-8 at halftime.

Martinez scored four points, and Ojeda and Carlos Lopez scored two to push the advantage to 51-8. Fazio scored Creede’s first basket of the second half, but Ojeda scored four points and Martinez two as the lead grew to 59-10.

Jaden Harness scored for the Miners, but Yael Ojeda scored a layup and the Panthers had a 59-12 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Martinez scored six more points as the Panthers’ lead was extended to 65-13. Fazio scored the first four points of the quarter for the Miners, and Sliwkowski and Charles Heinrich both scored to wrap up the scoring,

The Panthers had two players score in double figures. Martinez led all scorers with 27 points and Aron Ojeda scored 18.

Fazio led Creede with nine points.

Sierra Grande (9-2, 3-0) defeated Cotopaxi 56-34 on Saturday and it hosted Kim/Branson on Tuesday. It will host Moffat on Saturday.

Creede (5-8, 2-1) defeated Moffat 65-19 on Saturday. It will host Sangre de Cristo on Friday.

Sierra Grande 67, Creede 18

Creede – Fazio 3 2-6 9, Heinrich 0 1-2 1, Sliwkowski 1 1-2 3, O’Hare 1 0-0 3, Fairchild 0 0-0 0, Jenkins 0 0-2 0, Harness 1 0-0 2. Total 6 4-12 18.

3-point goals – Fazio 1, O’Hare 1. Total 2.

Sierra Grande – Najera 2 1-1 5, A. Ojeda 8 2-3 18, Martinez 10 6-10 27, A. Lopez 0 1-2 1, C. Lopez 2 0-0 5, Mizokami 2 0-0 5, Wilson 0 0-0 0, Chairez 0 0-2 0, Roybal 0 0-0 0, Joos 0 0-0 0, Y. Ojeda 2 0-1 4, LeLeon 1 0-0 2. Total 27 10-19 67.

3-point goals – C. Lopez 1, Martinez 1, Mizokami 1. Total 3.

Creede 2 6 4 6 – 18

Sierra Grande 16 27 16 8 – 67

Fouls – Creede 16, Sierra Grande 12.