LA JARA – The Centauri High School boys basketball team, ranked fifth in Class 3A, defeated Sanford, ranked sixth in 2A, Tuesday at the Falcons’ gym.

Colter Canty made a 3-point basket to give the Mustangs the early lead, but Carson Bagwell made a three of his own. Troy Sowards then scored in the paint to give the Falcons a 5-3 lead.

Ben Sittler tied the score, but Bagwell made back-to-back baskets. Sittler and Trason Gartrell both scored to tie the score at 9-9.

Todd Broyles gave Centauri the lead with two free throws, but Travis Canty made a 3-pointer from half court to give the Mustangs a 12-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Jace Haslett made two free tosses to begin the second quarter and give tne Falcons a 13-12 lead. Sowards split at the line, but Sittler and Ben Faucette both drained treys for an 18-14 Mustangs lead.

Carson Shawcroft made a free throw, and Sean Jarvies made a three to tie the score at 18-18. Jared McCarroll gave the lead back to Sanford, but Sowards tied the score and Kamryn Garcia scored to give Centauri a 22-20 edge.

Gartrell and Sittler both scored to give Sanford the lead,]. Gartrell then made two free throws to extend the lead to 26-22.

Sowards and Travis Canty both made free throwstto end the first half with Sanford leading 28-24 at the break.

Bagwell made two free throws to open the third quarter, but Sittler drove for a layup. The teams exchanged baskets before Bagwell and Haslett both scored to tie the score at 34-34.

Travis Canty scored in the paint, but Bagwell buried a 3-pointer to give the Falcons a 37-36 lead at the led of the third quarter.

Carson Shawcroft made a three to begin the fourth, and Bagwell and Shawcroft both scored to increase the Centauri lead to 44-36.

Gartrell made a layup, but Bagwell scored eight points including two 3-pointers, and Haslett scored two as the Falcons widened their lead to 54-38.

Gartell made two baskets and Sittler one as Sanford closed the margin to 54-44, but Bagwell and Sowards both made two free throws to wrap up the scoring.

Bagwell led all scorers with 28 points which included four threes. Sowards scored nine and Haslett added eight.

Sittler was the Mustangs’ leading scorer with 15 points, followed by Gartrell with 12.

Centauri 58, Sanford 44

Sanford – B. Faucette 1 0-0 3, Sittler 7 0-0 15, Gartrell 5 2-2 12, C. Canty 1 0-0 3, J.D. Faucette 1 0-0 2, McCarroll 1 0-0 2, T. Canty 2 2-2 7, Larsen 0 0-0 0. Total 17 4-4 44.

3-point goals – C. Canty, T. Canty 1, B. Faucette 1, Sittler 1. Total 4.

Centauri – Shawcroft 2 1-2 6, Sowards 2 5-6 9, Jarvies 1 0-0 3, Bagwell 10 4-4 28, Haslett 3 2-4 8, McGinnis 0 0-2 0, Garcia 1 0-0 2, Broyles 0 2-2 2. Total 19 14-20 58.

3-point goals – Bagwell 4, Jarvies 1, Shawcroft 1. Total 6.

Sanford 12 16 8 8 – 44

Centauri 11 13 13 21 – 58

Fouls – Sanford 22, Centauri 7. Fouled out – Sittler.