SANFORD – It was a battle of ranked Conejos County girls basketball teams Tuesday as Sanford, ranked third in Class 2A, hosted Centauri, ranked seventh in Class 3A at the SHS gym.

The Falcons got off to a hot start but had to hold off a late Mustang charge as Centauri won by a score of 46-42.

Lyndie Sowards got the Falcons going early with a 3-point basket, followed by a layup by Paityn Sowards. Makynlee Faucette split at the free throw line for the Mustangs first point, but Alyvia Norton made a layup, and Lyndie Sowards made one of two free throws. Norton made two from the charity stripe for a 10-1 Centauri lead.

Brinlyn Smith made two free throws, but Rylie McCarroll scored in the paint.

Smith drove for a layup, but Sydney Haslett knocked down a jumper for the Falcons. Smith drained a three to cut the deficit to 14-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Faucette made two free throws to begin the second quarter but Lyndie Sowards split at the line. Kynlei Curtis made a layup to increase the Falcons’ lead to 17-10.

Avery Koenig made one of two free tosses, but Curtis hit a jumper and Haslett a trey. Haslett later split at the line for a 23-11 Centauri lead.

Koenig ended the run with a layup, but Lyndie Sowards made a jump shot. Paityn Sowards made one of two free throws, and Norton made two from the line to increase the lead to 28-13.

Smith made one of two charity tosses and later a 3-pointer. Hayden Peterson made two free throws, but Curtis beat the clock with a layup to give the Falcons a 30-19 advantage at halftime.

Haslett began the third quarter with a layup, but Jewel Caldon buried a three to bring the Mustangs within 32-22. Haslett knocked down a jumper, but Smith scored seven points and Koenig two to cut the Sanford deficit to 34-31.

Lyndie Sowards and Curtis both scored in the final minute of the period to give Centauri a 38-31 lead.

Keira Ruggles opened the fourth quarter by splitting at the line, then Claire Crowther scored two baskets to bring the Mustangs within 38-36. Paityn Sowards made a layup, but Smith hit a jumper. Paityn Sowards scored again, but Koenig and Jewel Caldon both scored to tie the score at 42-42 with 1:37 left in the game.

Lyndie Sowards scored with 1:01 remaining. She made one of two free throws on two occasions to wrap up the scoring.

Lyndie Sowards was Centauri’s leading scorer with 17 points, followed by Haslett with 10 and Curtis with eight.

Smith led Sanford with 18 points.

Sanford (12-1, 1-0) was scheduled to host South Park on Friday, but the game has been postponed to a later date. It will travel to Trinidad this coming Friday and to Sargent on Saturday.

Centauri (8-3, 2-0) hosted Ignacio on Friday. It will play at Monte Vista today.

Centauri 46, Sanford 42

Centauri – Curtis 4 0-0 8, P. Sowards 3 1-4 7, R. McCarroll 1 0-0 2, L. Sowards 4 4-8 17, Haslett 4 1-2 10, Smith 0 0-0 0, Russell 0 0-0 0, Norton 1 4-5 5, M. McCarroll 0 0-0 0, Dwyer 0 0-0 0. Total 17 10-19 46.

3-point goals – Haslett 1, L. Sowards 1. Total 2.

Sanford – Smith 5 7-9 18, Koenig 3 1-2 7, Crowther 2 0-0 4, Je. Caldon 2 0-0 5, Faucette 0 3-4 4, Jo. Caldon 0 0-0 0, B. Peterson 0 0-0 0, H. Peterson 0 2-2 2, J. Peterson 0 0-0 0, Ruggles 0 1-2 1. Total 12 14-19 42.

3-point goals – Je. Caldon 1, Smith 1. Total 2

Centauri 14 16 8 8 – 46

Sanford 8 11 12 11 – 42

Fouls – Centauri 15, Sanford 16.