LA JARA — The Centauri High School boys basketball team punched its ticket to the Class 3A State Tournament Great Eight as it defeated Salida 57-36 Saturday at the Falcons’ gym.

“Our guys don’t know the word quit and they’re fearless,” said Centauri coach Larry Mortensen.

Tristan Jackson gave the Spartans the early lead, but Mason Claunch tied the score with a jumper. Nate Yeakley made two straight baskets and Jackson added another as Salida led 8-2,

Baron Holman pulled the Falcons within 8-4, but Yeakley scored again.

Centauri then got consecutive layups from Claunch, Chaz Holman and Kaleb Anderson to tie the score at 10-10. But Aaron Morgan made a 3-point basket just before time expired and the Spartans led after the first quarter 13-10.

The Holmans scored layups to give the Falcons their first lead of the game early in the second. But Yeakley scored again and Damon Redfeather drained a three to put Salida back on top at 18-14.

Claunch made a 3-pointer of his own, but Chase Diesslin scored a layup and Redfeather knocked down another trey for a 23-17 Spartans lead. Claunch scored again, but Diesslin also scored for a second time. Baron Holman made two free throws to bring Centauri within 25-21 with 2:10 left in the period.

Morgan made another 3-pointer to give the Spartans their largest lead at 28-21 with 1:48 left before halftime. But Baron Holman made two more free throws and later scored a layup to cut the deficit to 28-25 at halftime.

Baron Holman opened the third quarter with a jumper, but Morgan answered on the other side.

That would turn out to be Salida’s only scoring of the period. Baron Holman buried a trey to tie the score and Mason Sowards split at the line to put the Falcons in front at 31-30.

Claunch hit another jumper and Leighton Curtis made two free throws. Baron Holman made one of two free throws. Curtis then hit a 3-pointer and Chaz Holman drove for a layup to give Centauri a 41-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Yeakley opened the fourth quarter with a jumper, but Chaz Holman answered with a jumper of his own. Yeakley then split at the line, but Baron Holman made two more free throws.

Yeakley also made two free throws, but Chaz Holman knocked down a pair of threes for a 51-35 lead.

Braden Collins made one of two for Salida, but the Falcons ended the game with baskets by Anderson and Josh Taylor.

“We just settled down a little bit,” Mortensen said. “No big adjustments, a couple of small adjustments and settle down and play our game.”

The Falcons had three players score in double figures. Baron Holman was the leading scorer with 18 points which included making nine of 11 free throws. Chaz Holman scored 14 and Claunch added 13.

Yeakley led Salida in scoring with 13 points.

Centauri takes a record of 22 wins and only one loss to the Great Eight which will be played this weekend at the University of Denver. Mortensen knows that the competition will be tough from now on.

“Everybody’s tough at this point,” Mortensen said. “Salida was tough. Hat’s off to Salida. They’re a good team.”

State tournament fields determined

ALAMOSA — The Colorado High School Activities Association has released its brackets for the Great Eight in Class 3A, Class 2A and Class 1A boys and girls basketball

The fifth-seeded Centauri High School boys basketball team will play fourth-seeded Colorado Academy in the Class 3A State Tournament quarterfinals Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at the University of Denver. A win by the Falcons will have them play either top-seeded St. Mary’s or eighth-seeded Eagle Ridge Academy at 8:30 p.m. on Friday. A loss on Thursday will eliminate Centauri.

On the other side of the bracket are second-seeded Sterling playing seventh-seeded Manual, and third-seeded Aspen playing sixth-seeded Resurrection Christian.

In the Class 2A State Tournament, which will be played at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, the Sanford High School boys basketball team enters as the third seed and it will play sixth-seeded Peyton at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Indians will play either second-seeded Limon or seventh-seeded Crowley County on Friday at either 10:15 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.

The other side of the bracket will feature top-seeded Yuma against the eighth-seeded Lotus School for Excellence, and fourth-seeded Denver Christian against fifth-seeded Wray.

Sanford is the top seed in the Class 2A girls tournament and it will play eighth-seeded Wiggins at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Lady Indians’ second game will be gainst fourth-seeded Rye or fifth-seeded Cedaredge at either 11:45 a.m. or 7 p.m. on Friday.

On the other side of the bracket, third-seeded Limon will play sixth-seeded Peyton and second-seeded Holyoke will play seventh-seeded Dayspring Christian.

In the Class 1A State Tournament, which will take place at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, the Sierra Grande boys basketball team enters as the top seed. The Panthers will face eighth-seeded Dove Creek at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. In its second game on Friday, Sierra Grande will play either fourth-seeded Caprock Academy or fifth-seeded McClave at either 1:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

In the Class 2A girls tournament, Sangre de Cristo is the fifth seed and it will play fourth-seeded Fleming at 4 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, the Lady Thunderbirds will play either top-seeded Briggsdale or eighth-seeded Lone Star at either 8:45 a.m. or 7 p.m.

The other side of the bracket features third-seeded McClave against sixth-seeded Dove Creek and second-seeded Flatirons Academy against seventh-seeded Cheyenne Wells.

The state tournaments will end on Saturday with the championship games. Should either the Sierra Grande boys or the Sangre de Cristo girls advance to their respective Class 1A title games, those game will be played at the Budweiser Events Center.

Centauri 57, Salida 36

Salida – Hadley 0 0-0 0, Collins 0 1-2 1, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Yeakley 5 3-4 13, Diesslin 2 0-1 4. Morgan 3 0-0 8, Redfeather 2 0-0 6, Edgington 0 0-0 0, Cleckner 0 0-0 0. Total 14 4-7 36.

3-point goals – Morgan 2, Redfeather 2. Total 4.

Centauri – C. Holman 6 0-0 14, Polzin 0 0-0 0, B. Holman 4 9-11 18, Claunch 6 0-1 13, Anderson 2 0-0 4, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Absmeier 0 0-0 0, Sowards 0 1-2 1, Tibbitts 0 0-0 0, Russell 0 0-0 0, Curtis 1 2-2 5, Taylor 1 0-0 2. Total 21 12-16 57.

3-point goals – C. Holman 2, Claunch 1, Curtis 1, B. Holman 1. Total 6.

Salida              13        15        2          6 – 36

Centauri          10        15        16        16 – 57

Fouls – Salida 13, Centauri 12.