SPRINGFIELD — The Smith Academy girls basketball team fell behind early against Putnam and never recovered, falling 48-32 Saturday in the quarterfinals of Western Massachusetts Division 4 Tournament.

The second-seeded Beavers (18-3) will play No. 3 Ware (16-6), Monday at 5 p.m. at Curry Hicks Cage. No. 7 Smith finished 14-8.

The Beavers took a 14-6 lead in the first three minutes of the game, forcing Smith Academy coach Fran Lafond to call a timeout.

“They’re quicker than us and they just overwhelmed us with speed,” Lafond said. “Our man-to-man just couldn’t keep up with them and they are a talented team, very fast, well coached.”

After the timeout, Chadiah Haywood had back-to-back layups to put Putnam ahead by 12 until a free throw from Smith Academy’s Emma Kelly ended a 4-minute, 49-second scoring drought with 1:48 left in the first quarter. Kelly finished with 16 points for the Falcons, who trailed 23-9 entering the second quarter.

“In the first quarter we knew where our shooters were, we were getting our ball to our teammates and their strengths,” said Putnam coach Michelle Lafond, who is the niece of Fran Lafond.

In the second half, the Falcons held Putnam to 17 points, including seven in the third quarter.

“The third and fourth quarter we went 1-3-1 zone, trapping the corner for those periods and they weren’t hitting their 3,” Fran Lafond said. “We were getting their rebounds and we were putting pressure on them. We settled down on offense and started to make hoops.”

Back-to-back baskets from Kelly pulled Smith Academy within 13 points with 3:15 left in the game, forcing the Beavers to call timeout. But the offense cooled for Smith as the Beavers held the Falcons to four points the rest of the way.

“The constant is just that they work hard,” said Michelle Lafond of the defense. “So our defense was a little bit off tonight but they always work at such a high level that it turns out in our favor most of the time.”

The Falcons lose seniors Hannah Rickert and Mary Whalen to graduation.

“There personalities will stay,” Fran Lafond said.

Putnam 48, Smith Academy 32

Smith Academy (14-7)

Guimond 2-2-6, Bailey 0-0-0, Hession 1-2-4, Rickert 0-4-4, Cavanaugh 0-0-0, Kelly 6-4-16, Smiarowski 0-0-0, Fill 0-0-0, Whalen 1-0-2. Totals 10-12-32

Putnam (17-3)

Metellus 5-2-13, Haywood 4-0-8, Goldsberry 2-0-5, Ramirez 3-0-8, Rodriguez 2-0-6, Maicom 2-2-6, Merced 1-0-2. Totals 19-4-48

Putnam

23

8

7

10

—48

Smith Academy

9

8

6

9

—32

3-Pointers—Putnam 6 (Ramirez 2, Rodriguez 2, Metellus, Goldsberry)