News Photo by Cassandra VanHorn Faith Dragiewicz runs up the court during Friday night’s game in Alpena. The Wildcats faced Traverse City Central but fell short, losing 61-39.

ALPENA — On Friday evening, the Alpena High School girls basketball team faced Traverse City Central in what started as a close match, but Traverse City Central then led in points for the rest of the game.

The final score for the girls was 61-39 for Traverse City Central.

At the start of the game, Traverse City Central began with possession.

Soon enough, Reaghan Fitzpatrick scored the first point for Alpena, a three-pointer.

Traverse City Central kept a close spot behind Alpena in points.

Natalie Maychen was sent to the line, where she scored two points.

Kiera Prue scored added two points for the Wildcats, and Fitzpatrick followed suit with a two. It was finalized by Prue scoring another two.

Traverse City Central then took a lead close to the end of the quarter, followed by Alpena’s Faith Dragiewicz scoring a two-pointer.

Claire Jarema, in the last five seconds, scored a three-pointer putting Alpena in the lead.

The first quarter score was 16-14 for Alpena.

Traverse City Central quickly took the lead again in the second quarter.

The only points scored by Alpena this quarter were from Dragiewicz when she was sent to the line and scored two points.

The halftime score was 29-18 for Traverse City Central.

Fitzpatrick scored a three-pointer to start the third quarter.

Dragiewicz was sent to the line again where she scored one. Following, Maychen was also sent to the line to score one.

Fitzpatrick then was sent to the line, scoring two for Alpena. In the last eight seconds, Fitzpatrick scored a three-pointer.

However, Alpena was still short of Traverse City Central’s lead.

The third quarter score was 50-28 for Traverse City Central.

Prue scored two at the start of the fourth quarter then was sent to the line to score another two.

Prue racked up the points by scoring two more two-pointers for the team.

Maychen scored a two-pointer following then was sent to the line to score one.

Despite Alpena racking up points, they weren’t able to catch up to Traverse City Central and ultimately lost 61-39.

The Wildcat will play Harbor Springs at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home.