Both teams got off to a terrible start Friday in a key Class 5A Centennial League basketball game, but only Arapahoe shook off its problems.

The visiting Warriors, matched by Cherokee Trail, missed their first six shots, but Arapahoe eventually found the mark well enough to post a low- scoring 51-32 win.

"It was really sloppy," Arapahoe coach Dan Snyder said. "We just talked about it, and I did tell the kids that we executed our defensive game plan very well."

Arapahoe ran out to a 16-3 advantage by the end of the first quarter and withstood a flood of turnovers to improve its record to 8-3 overall, 2-0 league.

The Cougars compounded their 0-for-6 field-goal funk into 4-for-22 misery by halftime.

Forward Micah Green, who was averaging 13.3 points, didn't hit any of his early field- goal attempts and finished with only three points.

Green wasn't alone in his frustration. The Cougars (8-3, 0-2) scored in double figures in only one quarter and shot only 13- for-36 from the floor.

"Some of their shots probably would have gone in on an ordinary night, but we also forced a lot of long shots," Arapahoe senior Drew Babb said. "(Offensively), I'd say we forced it in transition. They're a really quick team."

After finding its shooting eye, Arapahoe then went through another bad spell in the second quarter, when turnovers became the problem.

The Warriors had eight in the period, allowing the Cougars to trim one point from their deficit.

Cherokee Trail admittedly wasn't at full strength. Big man Kendall Gregory was serving the first part of a two-game suspension after collecting two technical fouls in a 72-70 triple- overtime loss to Overland earlier this week.

Warriors sophomore Parker Semin certainly didn't seem to benefit from Gregory's absence, as he had to endure contact on nearly every one of his shots. He scored 16 points but was roughed up on a few missed layups.

Semin was knocked down twice, getting his second up- close view of the court when the muscular Josh Martin fouled him hard on a layup in the fourth quarter. The Warriors station Semin underneath and have the instinct to hit him when open.

Earlier, Semin also grabbed an offensive rebound and was undercut by a Cougars player and tumbled to the floor.

"That one also hurt," he said. "I've got to work on my finishing."

Cherokee Trail coach Shawn Dirden has done well as the Cougars adjust to 5A play, but there was little he could do as only Austin Evans (with two three- pointers) hit outside.

Arapahoe16 8 17 10 - 51

Cherokee Trail3 9 12 8 - 32

A - Corbin Fromm 1 0-2 2, Jed Knafelc 0 0-1 0, Beau Webb 1 0-0 3, Cody Keen 0 1-2 1, Kevin Wallace 4 0-0 10, Javon Moore 3 0-1 8, Drew Babb 3 3-3 9, Will Ratterman 1 0-0 2, Parker Semin 6 4-5 16. Totals 19 8-14 51.

CT - Phil Ramey 3 0-0 6, Temani Adams 2 2-2 6, Diamond Gillis 1 0-0 2, Micah Green 1 0-0 3, Josh Martin 2 1-3 5, Tyler Holt 1 0-0 2, Austin Evans 2 0-0 6, Scott Hatcher 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 3-5 32.

Three-point goals - A, Wallace 2, Moore 2, Webb; CT, Evans 2, Green.