In the first loss of the regular season, the Centre High School girls basketball team was defeated Friday by Hope, 33-30.

The Lady Cougars trailed 20-11 at halftime but had a 9-point run in the third quarter to get within 2 points, 22-20. Cacey Simons, Bryanna Svoboda, and Allison Shields contributed to the comeback.

Shields opened the fourth quarter with a layup to tie the game. After a Hope field goal, Simons scored and added a free throw to give Centre a 25-23 lead.

The Lady Lions scored the next 7 points including one field goal on a steal, to lead by 5 points.

Svoboda sunk a 3-point shot to cut the deficit to 2, but Hope made three free throws to lead, 33-28. A field goal by Shields was not enough, and the Lady Cougars walked away with a 3-point loss.

Three players scored all of Centre’s points: Simons 13, Shields 9, and Svoboda 8.

The junior varsity was defeated, 19-6, in two quarters of play.