LA JARA – The Centauri High School girls basketball team played its first game since being released from quarantine on Saturday as the Lady Falcons hosted St. Mary’s at the Falcons’ gym.

The Lady Falcons, however, lost the game by a score of 55-43.

The Lady Pirates got off to a hot start as they outscored Centauri 13-0 in the first quarter. Payton Kutz scored nine of St. Mary’s first-quarter points.

Emerson Kutz extended the Lady Pirates’ lead to 15-0 with a pair of free throws. Lacey Johnson finally got Centauri on the scoreboard with a layup with 6:21 left in the first quarter.

Abby Smith then hit a 3-point basket and Dyani Ojeda made another. Amaya Garcia scored in the paint to bring the Lady Falcons within a 16-10 deficit.

Maeve Salveson’s trey extended the Lady Pirates’ advantage to 19-10, but Ojeda answered with a jumper. After Payton Kutz split at the line, Garcia made two straight baskets to help Centauri close to within 20-16 with 3:08 left in the first half.

St. Mary’s, however, would score the final six points of the second quarter to take a 26-16 lead at halftime.

Caitlyn Creel scored the first points of the second half for Centauri, but Ellie Hartman drained a 3-pointer, and Payton Kutz drove for a layup. Garcia split at the line and Ojeda made a trey, but St. Mary’s led 31-22.

Salveson sparked a 9-0 St. Mary’s run with seven points. Garcia scored for the Lady Falcons, but Hartman scored the final three points of the third to give the Lady Pirates a 43-24 lead.

Garcia and Smith both scored to open the fourth, but St. Mary’s answered with five straight points. Garcia scored six points and Ojeda five, and Creel made two free throws, but that would conclude the Lady Falcons’ scoring.

Garcia and Ojeda both scored 17 points to lead St. Mary’s. Payton Kutz led St. Mary’s with 18 points, and Hartman and Salveson both scored 12.

Centauri (4-4) will travel to Sanford on Tuesday. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s 55, Centauri 43

St. Mary’s – Darneal 1 1-1 3, P. Kutz 7 2-6 18, E. Kutz 2 2-2 7, Hartman 2 9-14 12, Salveson 4 2-2 12, Rysavy 0 0-0 0, Richter 1 1 1-3 3. Total 17 17-28 55.

3-point goals – P. Kutz 2, Salveson 2, Hartman 1, E. Kutz 1. Total 6.

Centauri – Ojeda 7 0-0 17, Garcia 7 3-4 17, Creel 0 2-2 2, Smith 2 0-0 5, Shawcroft 0 0-0 0, Guymon 0 0-0 0, Tucker 0 0-0 0, Curtis 0 0-0 0, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Jackson 0 0-0 0. Total 17 5-6 43.

3-point goals – Ojeda 3, Smith 1. Total 4.

St. Mary’s 13 13 17 12 – 55

Centauri 0 16 8 19 – 43

Fouls – St. Mary’s 12, Centauri 19. Fouled out – Smith.