WATERBORO — The Sanford boys basketball team would jump out to a 16-1 lead in the first quarter and not look back as it worked past rival Massabesic 48-34 on Tuesday night.

The Spartans dominated in the paint in the first half, and would hold the Mustangs without a field goal until the 3:34 mark in the second quarter. Sanford would eventually carry a 31-10 lead into the halftime break which proved to be the difference.

“We talked about pressuring them all night, we wanted to be the aggressors from the tip. Our guys bought into that and we threw the first punch tonight … (Massabesic) dug themselves into a hole and couldn’t pull themselves out of it,” said Sanford coach Ryan Martin after the win. “We worked hard to get loose balls, we were the aggressors with boxing out, we hit first, when you do that the ball is going to bounce your way. We did a great job of starting the game with a lot of intensity.”

The Mustangs would rebound and have a solid second half, outpacing Sanford 24-17. After shooting poorly in the first half, the Massabesic offense would begin clicking in the second as the Mustangs hit five 3-pointers and were able to cut into the lead and set the score to 48-34.

Leyton Bickford led the Spartans with 11 points while C.J. Lantagne added nine. Carson Bickford and John Garnsey each chipped in eight points as well. Isaac DesVergnes led the Mustangs with a game-high 15 points in the contest.

Massabesic coach Chris Binette was pleased with his team’s second-half turnaround, and felt that the nerves of playing in front of the big crowd played a role, as the Mustangs started two freshman with starters Alex Schepis and Nick Roberge out due to injuries.

“We had some good looks but we didn’t make them. This is a very exciting environment that we have here — the kids get rattled. We’re young, and keeping their composure during that is a challenge,” said Binette. “We’re the youngest team in the league, you’re going to have problems in an environment like this when things go the way you don’t want them to go.”

Martin was happy to see his club hold off the late Massabesic attack as the Spartans held Massabesic to just 20 percent shooting overall.

“Every team is a tough team and I tell the guys that every game is going to be a dog fight. We knew that it was going to be their turn to go on a run, we still have to get better with that and we got lucky in a few sports but I thought they did a decent job of holding them off when they went on their run,” said Martin. “It’s fun — it’s fun for the players that have a chance to play in an environment like this.”

Sanford improves to 4-11 on the year while Massabesic drops to 3-11. Binette hopes that his team learns from the loss, and looks forward to seeing what the Mustangs can do in the postseason.

“In the second half I was very happy with their hearts. We won the second half and we have to build on that with a young team. Everybody makes the playoffs and when you get to the playoffs no one has any wins,” said Binette. “We’re working toward the playoffs, I’m happy with the progress of my team.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at asponseller@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.