Central came from behind and snapped North’s five-game winning streak with a 41-39 win on Wednesday night.

 

“It felt good,” said Central senior Kaleah Barnes. “Working together really helped us get the win.”

 

The Bobcats were trailing by seven at the half, 22-15. Central cut the lead to two after three quarters.

 

The game started off slow, the first basket wasn’t made until the mid-first quarter by North senior Cesaria Kirkendoll.

 

But the Mustangs outscored the Bobcats by nine in the second quarter, helped by a 12-0 run right before the half.

 

North Junior Ana Pereyda led her team in scoring with nine points in the second quarter alone.

 

“We knew we had to play better defense going into the second half,” said Central head coach Ernest Pouncy. “And we did just that by playing with a much more higher intensity.”

 

The Bobcats came ready to play in the second half holding the Mustangs to only 10 points in the third quarter and cutting the lead to two, 32-30, at the end of the third.

 

Central senior Matalina Ochoa scored four of her 15 points in the third quarter.

 

“We started working together,” said Ochoa. “We felt we needed to win this game and played a lot harder and stronger.”

 

The Mustangs continued to struggle offensively failing to make a basket early in the fourth.

 

“We caught on to who their shooters were in the first half and stopped them down the stretch,” said Ochoa. “I think that really helped us get the win.”

 

Central outplayed North in the final quarter but had to hang on.

 

“We made bad plays, bad decisions, bad passes and they capitalized off them,” said North head coach Dariyon Shabazz. “They just outworked us tonight, they played hard.”

 

The Mustangs attempted a comeback late in the fourth quarter. North sophomore Adela Garcia made a free throw and made it a two-point game 41-39.

 

Both teams continued to fight until the very last second, but the score didn't change and the Bobcats defeated the Mustangs in a thriller.

 

“Defense was the key component in tonight’s win,” said Pouncy.

 

The rival teams previously met on Jan. 11, where the Mustangs came out on the winning end.

 

“We’re happy we got to win this time,” said Ochoa. “Our teamwork really showed.”

 

The Mustangs had hopes of keeping their winning streak and perfect section record alive. They are 9-1 in league play.

 

“I don’t think we played our best,” said Shabazz. “I think we underestimated them.”

 

The Mustangs will travel south to Laveen to face Cesar Chavez on Friday at 7:00 p.m.

 

Central will remain home Friday to face Mesa on Friday night.