ROLLA - There wasn't a more futile feeling for the South Callaway Lady Bulldogs.
Second-ranked South Callaway shot just 27 percent in the fourth quarter and went more than 4 minutes without scoring in tumbling to the sixth-ranked Licking Lady Wildcats 63-53 in a Class 3 sectional Wednesday night at Missouri S&T.
The Lady Bulldogs connected on only 6-of-22 shots over the final 8 minutes as a two-point deficit turned into a double-digit defeat to end their remarkable season at 26-1.
"We did what we needed to on offense and I think that we got the looks that we needed - the shots didn't fall," South Callaway head coach Darren Humphrey said. "As the shots don't fall, it's harder to bounce back from that.
"It becomes a mind game at that point. Mentally, we're tough, but the shots just didn't fall and that weakened us tremendously."
The Lady Bulldogs were down 43-39 to start the fourth quarter, but pulled within 46-44 on senior guard Kaci Jordan's jumper with 7 minutes, 26 seconds left in the game. However, South Callaway would go scoreless until Jordan followed her own miss with 3:10 remaining to bring the Lady Bulldogs within 53-46.
Licking countered by hitting 7-of-8 free throws as South Callaway went another 2-plus minutes without scoring. By the time senior guard Adrian Mann lobbed in a runner in the lane with 1:11 to go, the Lady Bulldogs trailed 60-48.
"It is a helpless feeling (when you can't score), because there's nothing you can do," Humphrey said. "If there's something technique-wise, if there's something that you can pinpoint and say, 'OK, we need to make one more pass, whatever, or (change) your touch on the ball or release.'
"You just can't pinpoint anything when everything's there, but they (shots) just won't fall."
The game's first 5 minutes were tight, with four ties and five lead changes between the two teams. Freshman forward DeLaney Horstman scored on a putback with 2:56 to play in the first quarter to give South Callaway an 11-9 edge.
Unfortunately, it would be the Lady Bulldogs' final lead of the contest as the Lady Wildcats responded with seven unanswered points to go in front. Dalrayn Feringa's basket in the lane put Licking on top 16-11 with :21 remaining in the quarter.
South Callaway pulled even at 18-all when Mann scored in the lane at the 6:38 mark of the second quarter, but the Lady Wildcats produced an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. Karlee Holland's 3-pointer with 4:03 to go in the period gave Licking a 26-18 advantage.
Senior guard Ashley Potter kept the Lady Bulldogs close by tallying eight points in the last 3:23 of the first half. Her 3-pointer at the 1:53 mark brought South Callaway within 30-26, and that score stood at the break.
The Lady Bulldogs twice trailed by six points in the third quarter and were down four entering the final 8 minutes, before being undermined by their shooting hardships.
Potter delivered 13 of her game-high 18 points in the first half to guide South Callaway.
"Potter's had that potential all year," Humphrey said. "Pott's been one of them - her job had been to fight for rebounds under the basket. I think she's been overshadowed by the success of others, but just her diligence in working offensively and defensively, you just can't ask for anything more."
Horstman chipped in with 17 points for the Lady Bulldogs, while senior guard Adrian Mann was limited to nine.
Feringa paced Licking (26-2) with 16 points and Holland followed with 15. The Lady Wildcats now move on to a monumental task in facing two-time defending state champion Strafford in the Class 3 quarterfinals Saturday in Springfield.
While South Callaway's one and only loss means their magical season has come to a conclusion, Humphrey took note of a special group of girls that were led by Mann, Potter and Jordan.
"There's nothing you can say," Humphrey said. "Year after year, you say the most helpless feeling in the world is the last time you take the shoes off your senior year. That holds true every year.
"Through all the adversity that we've had, these girls have not only brought girls' basketball into the light at South Callaway, they've brought the entire community together. That, as a coach, is probably as important as a win-loss record."
Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.