COLUMBIA — Ending a memorable season on a winning note.

That was one of the goals last Thursday afternoon for John VanLeer’s Owensville Dutchgirl basketball team entering the Class 4 girls third-place game against Chillicothe’s Lady Hornets during the 2024 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown inside Columbia’s Mizzou Arena.

Grabbing a quick 3-0 lead on a Camryn Caldwell 3-pointer, the orange and black had the lead the majority of the first quarter before Chillicothe took a 10-9 lead after eight minutes of basketball.

Limited to five second-quarter points, Owensville saw the Lady Hornets put 15 points of their own on the board to leave the Dutchgirls trailing 25-14 at halftime.

In spite of whittling a double-digit third-quarter deficit down to five points on two occasions, the Dutchgirls were not able to get any closer before settling for fourth-place hardware after a 50-39 loss to Chillicothe ending their season at 22-9.

“Our girls fought to the very end and I could not be any more prouder of the effort they gave us,” VanLeer said. “They fought to the very last whistle trying to rebound the basketball while not just standing there watching it.”

After Caldwell’s 3-pointer to open the game, Owensville took a 6-3 lead on an Ali Daniels 3-pointer at the 5:27 mark of the opening quarter.

Another Caldwell free throw gave the Dutchgirls a 7-5 lead nearly a minute later before an Emma Daniels lay up gave the orange and black a 9-8 lead with 2:40 for the first quarter.

Missing three shots in the final two minutes, Owensville went into the second quarter trailing the Lady Hornets 10-9.

Out rebounded 13-5 in the opening eight minutes, the Dutchgirls saw Chillicothe score four of their first-quarter points in the paint.

Surrendering five points in the first minute of the second quarter, Ali Daniels hit a 3-pointer cutting the Lady Hornet lead to three at 15-12 with 6:24 until halftime.

Aside from an Ali Daniels lay up with 3:55 for the half, Owensville saw the Lady Hornets end the second quarter on a 10-2 run leaving them in a 25-14 halftime hole.

Trailing by as much as 15 points at 31-16 with 6:02 for the third quarter, VanLeer’s Dutchgirls began to chip away at Chillicothe’s lead.

Two Caldwell 3-pointers and an Ali Daniels lay up pulled the orange and black back within single digits at 33-24 near the midway point of the third quarter.

A minute later, Emma Daniels canned another 3-pointer putting the Dutchgirls within six at 33-27 with 3:11 for the third quarter.

Field goals from Ali Daniels put OHS back with five on two occasions before ending the third quarter down 38-32.

“Coming out in the second half, we made some adjustments and one of our goals was to get the game back within six points at the end of the third quarter,” VanLeer said.

Chillicothe started the fourth quarter with a pair of 3-pointers putting their lead back into double digits at 44-32 with 4:32 remaining.

In spite of getting back into single digits twice, Owensville did not have enough offense to overcome a good Chillicothe team.

Ali Daniels showed the way for the Dutchgirls with 17 points, two rebounds and an assist while Caldwell also finished in double figures with 12 points which included three shots from 3-point land.

Emma Daniels just missed making it a double-digit Dutchgirl scoring trio with eight points, five rebounds and four assists.

Cameron Nowack rounded out the Owensville scoring against Chillicothe with two points, four rebounds and two assists.

Audrey Quilacio pulled down a rebound and added two steals during her final game in a Dutchgirl basketball uniform.

Elizabeth Oliver led Chillicothe with 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals while Jolie Bonderer added 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.