LA JARA – The fourth-ranked Centauri High School girls basketball team wrapped up the Intermountain League title with a 43-34 win over Alamosa Friday at the CHS gym.

The Falcons got the early lead as Joselyn McCarroll scored a layup for the final points of her senior season. She was sidelined for much of this season with a knee injury.

The Mean Moose tied the score on a layup by Audrina Knorr.

Aubrey Rothermich then gave Alamosa the lead with a layup, but Kynlei Curtis tied the score with two free throws. Leela Gutierrez then split at the line, however, Lyndie Sowards knocked down a jumper for a 6-5 Centauri lead.

Gutierrez again made one of two free throws to tie the score, and Rothermich made a jumper to give the Mean Moose an 8-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Knorr split at the line to begin the second quarter. Rylie McCarroll also made one of two free tosses, but Knorr did the same and Alamosa had a 10-7 lead.

Rylie McCarroll scored in the paint, but Gutierrez hit a jump shot. Harper Russell then made a 3-point basket to tie the score at 12-12.

Curtis put the Falcons into the lead, but Jaelin Garcia again deadlocked the score with two free throws. Rylie McCarroll drained a three, but Garcia scored in the paint. Rylie McCarroll made one of two free throws, but Knorr drove for a layup in the final seconds to tie the score at 18-18 at halftime.

Gutierrez and Garcia scored baskets, and Knorr a trey to give Alamosa its largest lead at 25-18.

The lead would not last long, however. Paityn Sowards made a layup and Curtis a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 25-23. Alyvia Norton and Paityn Sowards both scored layups, and Curtis a three. Norton scored again to give the Falcons a 32-25 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Curtis and Rylie McCarroll. Both split at the line to open the fourth quarter, and Norton made a layup. Rylie McCarroll made two free throws to give Centauri its largest lead at 38-25.

Knorr ended the run with a jumper, but Rylie McCarroll split at the line. Knorr scored again, but Lyndie Sowards made a pair of charity tosses.

Rothermich answered with a trey, but Paityn Sowards and Norton both split at the line. Rothermich scored just as time expired.

Curtis and Rylie McCarroll led the Falcons as both scored 11 points.

Knorr was Alamosa’s leading scorer with 13 points.

Both teams will host the opened rounds of their respective state tournaments this weekend. Centauri (19-4) will host Liberty Common in the Class 3A tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday, and Alamosa (16-6) will host Wellington in Class 4A at 7 p.m. also on Friday.

Centauri 43, Alamosa 34

Alamosa – Gutierrez 2 2-4 6, Knorr 5 2-4 13, Garcia 2 2-2 6, Rice 0 0-0 0, Rothermich 4 0-0 9, Quintana 0 0-0 0, Moeller 0 0-0 0, Schrader 0 0-0 0, Holman 0 0-0 0. Total 13 6-10 34.

3-point goals – Knorr 1, Rothermich 1. Total 2.

Centauri – Curtis 3 3-4 11, Norton 3 1-3 7, R. McCarroll 2 6-10 11, L. Sowards 1 2-2 4, J. McCarroll 1 0-0 2, Russell 1 0-0 3, P. Sowards 2 1-2 5, Haslett 0 0-2 0. Total 13 13-21 43.

3-point goals – Curtis 2, R. McCarroll 1, Russell 1. Total 4.

Alamosa 8 10 7 9 – 34

Centauri 6 12 14 11 – 43

Fouls – Alamosa 20, Centauri 14. Fouled out – Gutierrez.