Century stayed with favored Chaska until the final minute before being done in by turnovers in a 63-50 loss in the Rotary/US Bank Holiday Classic first round Thursday afternoon at Mayo Civic Center Arena.
Chaska, ranked No. 8 in Class AAAA, outscored Century 8-0 in the last minute to turn a close game into a double-digit win. The defeat snapped a five-game winning streak for Century (6-3).
Century senior Morgan Hartman kept the Panthers close with three three-pointers in the last 6 1/2 minutes, the last one cutting Chaska's lead to 55-50 with 1:00 remaining.
Century got the ball back with a chance to make it a one-possession game, but the Panthers committed a turnover with 45 seconds and Chaska center Ellie Thompson converted a 3-point play after drawing a foul on a transition layup. That play clinched it for the Hawks.
Hartman finished with 25 points for Century with 17 in the second half. Thompson, a 6-foot-1 junior, led Chaska with 25 points, 16 in the second half. Chaska improved to 8-2.
