LA JARA – It was a tale of two halves when Centauri, the fifth-ranked team in Class 3A, hosted Sanford, ranked fifth in Class 2A, in girls basketball action on Tuesday.

The Lady Mustangs led for most of the first half, but the Lady Falcons took over in the second half. Sanford made a late charge, but Centauri held on to win 46-41.

Centauri scored first on a jumper by Joselyn McCarroll, but Shasta Bond made one of two free throws, and Claire Crowther made a layup to give Sanford a 3-2 lead.

Braelyn Tucker drained a 3-point basket to put the Lady Falcons back in front, but Bond made two more free throws. Tucker split at the line, but Bella Peterson and Crowther both scored layups to give the Lady Mustangs a 9-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Jocelyn Jarvies opened the second quarter with a layup to bring Centauri within 9-8. But Jewel Caldon made a  three to extend the lead to 12-8.

Jarvies made a layup and added a free throw. But Crowther buried a trey for a 15-11 Sanford lead.

Joselyn McCarroll made a 3-pointer on the other side, but Crowther answered with a jumper.

Jarvies split at the line twice, and Tucker made a jump shot to put Centauri back into the lead at 18-17.

Brinlyn Smith made two free throws, and Caldon split at the line twice and Crowther once to give the Lady Mustangs a 22-18 edge.

Hannah Curtis made a pair of free tosses, but Caldon made one of two from the charity stripe and Smith made two for a 25-20 advantage.

Joselyn McCarroll made a layup in the closing seconds to cut the deficit to 25-22 at halftime.

Joselyn McCarroll made a layup for the first points of the second half, and Alyvia Norton scored four points for a 28-25 Centauri lead. Crowther answered with a layup, but Joselyn McCarroll made a layup to again give Centauri a three-point lead.

Smith and Makynlee Faucette both split at the line, but Jarvies drove for a layup, and Joselyn McCarroll made one of two free throws to give the Lady Falcons a 33-29 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Hayden Peterson made a three to bring Sanford within 33-32. Norton made a jumper, but Hayden Peterson made a layup and added a free throw to tie the score at 35-35.

Norton gave the lead back to the Lady Falcons, but Hayden Peterson again tied the score.

Norton made one of two from the line, and Rylie McCarroll made a layup and also made a free throw. Norton did the same to give Centauri a 44-37 advantage with 1:44 left in the game.

Crowther made one of two free throws, and Brooklynn Reynolds drained a three to cut the lead to 44-41 with 51 seconds remaining.

Jarvies ended the scoring with two free throws.

Joselyn McCarroll and Norton both scored 12 points to lead the Lady Falcons, and Jarvies scored 11.

Crowther led the Lady Mustangs with 13 points.

Centauri 46, Sanford 41

Sanford – Smith 0 5-8 5, Koenig 0 0-0 0, Crowther 5 2-6 13, Reynolds 1 0-0 3, Bond 0 3-4 3, Caldon 1 3-6 6, Faucette 0 1-2 1, B. Peterson 1 0-1 2, H. Peterson 3 1-1 8. Total 11 15-28, 41.

3-point goals – Caldon 1, Crowther 1, H. Peterson 1, Reynolds 1. Total 4.

Centauri – Jarvies 3 5-7 11, Tucker 2 1-4 6, R. McCarroll 1 1-1 3, J. McCarroll 5 1-6 12, H. Curtis 0 2-2 2, K. Curtis 0 0-0 0, Norton 4 4-5 12, Sowards 0 0-0 0, Holman 0 0-0 0, Tibbitts 0 0-0 0. Total 15 14-25 46.

3-point goals – J. McCarroll 1, Tcuker 1. Total 2.

Sanford 9 16 4 12 – 41

Centauri 6 16 10 13 – 46

Fouls – Sanford 19, Centauri23. Fouled out – H. Curtis.