In the toughest match-up of the season Jan. 6, the Centre High School girls’ basketball team faced Sunrise Christian Academy of Wichita.

The girls put up a good fight for a while, but seemed to play out in the second half and lost by 26 points, 65-39.

Shelby Deines, Allison Shields, Carlye Simons, and Josie Peterson scored two points each in the first quarter, and Centre trailed Sunrise 15-8.

Led by Deines, the Lady Cougars picked up their play in the second quarter to match the Lady Buffaloes’ 17 points. Centre was within three or four points much of the quarter but ended the half trailing by seven, 32-25.

The team seemed to lose its intensity in the second half, scoring only 14 points compared to 33 by Sunrise.

Deines was Centre’s leading scorer, with 12 points. Shields was the next highest scorer, with six points.