MOSCA – The Sangre de Cristo boys basketball team took an early lead when it hosted Swink Friday at the Sangre gym. However, the Thunderbirds could not hold on to the lead and the Lions went on to record a 54-33 win.

Kaiden Smit scored two layups and Andreas Olivas made one to help the T-Birds take a 6-0 edge. Garlon Guerin scored the Lions’ first points, but Deagon Rogers split at the line to push the lead to 7-2.

Swink then went on a 10-0 run to close out the quarter with Guerin scoring eight of the points. The Lions led 12-7 at the end of the period.

Olivas scored five straight points to tie the score at 12-12 early in the second. However, Swink had another big run as they scored 12 unanswered points for a 24-12 advantage.

Olivas ended the rally with two free throws, but Hunter Reynolds knocked down a jumper and Justin Poalucci split at the line to increase the lead to 27-14.

Rogers made two more free throws, but Nick Paolucci scored in the paint. Jaron Mason made two charity tosses to bring Sangre within 29-18 at halftime.

Ben Miner opened the third quarter by making one of two free throws. Kolby Schellabarger hit a jumper for the T-Birds’ first points of the quarter, but Miner drove for a layup, and Hunter Bauserman made a 3-point basket for a 35-20 advantage.

Olivas made a trey, but Bauersman scored a layup, and Justin Paolucci scored three points to push the lead to 40-23. Rogers scored four points, but Luis Carale and Bauserman both scored for a 45-27 Swink advantage at the end of the period.

Guerin opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a jumper, and Nick Paolucci scored a layup and added a free throw for a 50-29 lead. Nick Paolucci made two more free throws, and Luke Hanagan scored a layup to give the Lions their largest lead at 54-29.

Anthony Garcia made a jumper, and Mason made two free throws to wrap up the scoring.

Olivas led Sangre in scoring with 12 points. Guerin was Swink’s top scorer with 12 points, followed by Bauserman with 10.

Sangre de Cristo (6-6, 1-0 Southern Peaks League) will resume league play today as it will host Centennial.

Swink 54, Sangre de Cristo 33

Swink – Cabrera 1 1-2 3, Bauserman 4 1-3 10, Guerin 5 2-2 12, Miner 2 3-3 7, J. Paolucci 1 3-6 5, Carale 0 2-2 2, N. Paolucci 2 3-3 7, Reynolds 2 0-2 6, Hanagan 1 0-0 2, Larrew 0 0-0 0. Total 19 15-24 54.

3-point goal – Bauserman 1. Total 1.

Sangre de Cristo – Rogers 1 5-6 7, Schellabarger 1 0-0 2, Clayton 0 0-0 0, Olivas 4 2-2 12, Smit 2 0-0 4, J. Garcia 0 0-0 0, Mason 1 4-4 6, Cleve 0 0-0 0, Wilson 0 0-1 0, A. Garcia 1 0-0 2, Jaramillo 0 0-1 0, Najera 0 0-0 0. Total 10 11-14 33.

3-point goals – Olivas 2. Total 2.

Swink 12 17 16 9 – 54

Sangre 7 11 9 6 – 33

Fouls – Swink 19, Sangre de Cristo 25. Fouled out – Schellaberger, Olivas, Smit.