LA JARA – It was a ball of Top 3 teams on Saturday at the Centauri High School girls basketball team, ranked third in Class 3A, hosted Pagosa Springs, ranked second in Class 4A, at the CHS gym.

The game lived up to its hype. The Lady Falcons had a nine-point lead after the third quarter, only to have the Lady Pirates to close within three early in the fourth. But when it was all said and done, Centauri managed to come away with a 47-36 win.

Joselyn McCarroll drove for a layup to give the Lady Falcons the early lead. Karsyn Shahan tied the score, but Joselyn McCarroll scored again.

Shahan made a 3-point basket to give Pagosa its only lead of the game at 5-4. Jocelyn Jarvies split at the line and then made a layup for a 7-5 Lady Falcons lead.

Kylie Ketchum made two free throws to tie the score, but Joselyn McCarroll scored again to put Centauri in front for good. Jarvies and Joselyn McCarroll both scored for a 13-7 lead.

Shahan made one of two free throws, and Ketchum made two charity tosses to cut the lead to 13-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Braelyn Tucker scored the first points of the second quarter, but Elizabeth Currier made a layup and Adelyn Hittle split at the line.

Joselyn McCarroll made two more baskets, and Sydney Haslett made a layup and a free throw for a 22-13 lead. Currier drained a three to reduce the margin to 22-16 at halftime.

Ketchum made a jumper to begin the second half, but Tucker knocked down a jumper and Hannah Curtis made a 3-pointer for a 27-18 advantage. Ketchum scored again, but so did Lyndie Sowards. Tucker scored again to increase the lead to 31-20. Lexi Campbell drove for a layup, but Tucker dropped in another jumper. Kaila Limebrook scored in the pint to cut the Centauri lead to 33-24 at the end of the third period.

The Lady Pirates opened the fourth quarter by scoring the first six points. Ketchum scored two baskets and Hittle one to cut the lead to 33-30.

Joselyn McCarroll and Rylie McCarroll both scored layups to push the lead to seven. Limebrook made a layup, but so did Hannah Curtis. Limebrook then split at the line, but Denver Holman drove for a layup.

Shahan buried a three to bring Pagosa within 41-36. But that would be its final scoring. Rylie McCarroll scored one basket and Tucker two to wrap up the scoring.

Joselyn McCarroll led the Lady Falcons in scoring with 14 points, followed by Tucker with 12.

Ketchum led the Lady Pirates with 12.

Centauri (18-3, 9-1) traveled to Ignacio on Tuesday. It will wrap up the regular season with a game at Alamosa, ranked fifth in Class 4A on Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Centauri 47, Pagosa Springs 36

Pagosa Springs – Currier 2 0-0 5, Ketchum 4 4-4 12, Limebrook2 1-2 5, Snarr 0 0-0 0, Shahan 3 1-2 9, Campbell 1 0-0 2, Hittle 1 1-2 3. Total 13 7-10 36.

3-point goals – Shahan 2, Currier 1. Total 3.

Centauri – Jarvies 2 1-2 5, Tucker 6 0-0 12, R. McCarroll 2 0-0 4, J. McCarroll 7 0-2 14, H. Curtis 2 0-0 5, K. Curtis 0 0-2 0, Norton 0 0-0 0, L. Sowards 1 0-0 2, Holman 1 0-0 2, Tibbitts 0 0-0 0, P. Sowards 0 0-0 0, Haslett 1 1-1 3. Total 22 2-7 47.

3-point goals – H. Curtis 1. Total 1.

Pagosa Springs 10 6 8 12 – 36

Centauri 13 9 11 14 – 47

Fouls – Pagosa Springs 11, Centauri 17.