CENTER – The Center High School girls basketball team resumed the 2025-26 season on Saturday as it hosted Rocky Ford at the CHS gym.

The Meloneers showed up with only six players, but they gave the Vikings all they could handle. Center came away with a 44-39 win.

Emiliana Valdez put Center on the board first, but Kendra Rodriguez tied the score. Valdez then made one of two from the free throw line before Brllye Lovato made two free throws to five Rocky a 4-3 lead.

Anahlicia Villagomez put the Vikings back into the lead, and Valdez made two free throws for a 7-4 lead.

Jenna Cruz and Anicka Cardenas both scored to give the Meloneers an 8-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Cruz scored again to begin the second quarter and extended Rocky’s lead to 10-7.

Becklynn Bogner scored five points including a 3-point basket to help the Vikings regain the lead. Karyme Chavez scored to push the lead to 14-10.

Cardenas cut the lead to 14-12, but Chavez scored again. Rodriguez made two free throws, but Camila Miranda made a layup and Chavez a three to give Center a 21-15 advantage at halftime.

Kylia Gonzales opened the second half with a layup to bring the Meloneers within 21-17. Chavez and Valdez both scored in the paint, and Valdez added two free throws for a 27-17 lead.

Dulce Palma split at the line, and after a Cardenas jumper, Valdez also made one of two from the line, and later scored in the paint to give the Vikings their largest lead at 31-19.

Rodriguez split at the line, and Lovato and Cardenas both scored. Rodriguez made one of two free tosses to help Rocky close the lead to 31-25.

Oceana Garcia ended the Meloneers’ run with a trey, but Rodriguez made two free throws, and Gonzales a 3-pointer for narrow the Center lead to 34-30 at the end of the third quarter.

Rodriguez knocked down a jumper to begin the fourth quarter and close the lead to 34-32. Valdez scored for the Vikings, but Gonzales split at the line. Valdez scored again, and Miranda made a layup to increase the Center lead to 40-33.

Cardenas made two baskets, but Valdez and Chavez both scored. Lovato scored with 51 seconds remaining to wrap up the scoring.

Valdez led the Vikings with 18 points, and Chavez scored eight.

Rodriguez was the Meloneers‘ top scorer with 13 points, followed by Cardenas with 10.

Center (6-3) will travel to South Park on Saturday. The first game begins at noon.

Center 44, Rocky Ford 39

Rocky Ford – Rodriguez 3 7-12 13, Gonzalez 2 1-2 6, Lovato 2 2-4 6, Baca 0 0-0 0, Cardenas 5 0-2 10, Cruz 2 0-0 4. Total 14 10-24 39.

3-point goals – Gonzalez 1. Total 1.

Center – Villagomez 1 0-4 2, Lujan 1 0-0 3, Chavez 4 0-0 8, Palma 0 1-4 1, E. Valdez 6 6-13 18, Martinez 0 0-0 0, Garcia 1 0-0 3, Miranda 2 0-0 4, Bogner 2 0-0 5, Tafoya 0 0-0 0, S. Valdez 0 0-0 0. Total 17 7-21 44.

3-point goals – Bogner 1, Garcia 1, Lujan 1. Total 3.

Rocky Ford 8 7 15 9 – 39

Center 7 14 13 10 - 44

Fouls – Rocky Ford 17, Center 22. Fouled out – Rodriguez, Baca; Villagomez.