QUINCY — While Ephrata played well, they were unable to overcome Cashmere's hot long-range shooting in a 66-55 loss Thursday.

Trailing by as many as 18 in the second half, Ephrata battled back to cut the Bulldog lead to five late in the game.

Down by 11 with six minutes to go, Kellee Neal scored to trim the Cashmere lead to single digits at 54-45.

After a Cashmere travel gave Ephrata the ball back, Neal scored again to make it a seven point game. On Cashmere's next possession, Neal was fouled after grabbing a rebound. She hit both ends of the one and one to bring Ephrata within five at 54-49 with just under five minutes to play.

Cashmere then scored four quick points to push their lead to nine.

Ephrata's Holly Nelson responded with an off-balance shot from underneath the basket that found the bottom of the net. Nelson was fouled on the shot, and sank the subsequent free throw at the 2:17 mark to make the score 58-52.

After a quick Bulldog basket, Kyla Whitaker knocked down one free-throw with 1:15 to play and two more with 55 seconds in the game to bring Ephrata back to within five.

With time running down, Ephrata was forced to foul. Cashmere shot 6 of 8 from the line down the stretch, and Ephrata failed to convert scoring opportunities that could have got them in position to tie the game.

"We'd get back, but couldn't get over the hump," said Ephrata coach Missy Beierman. "We needed a couple more stops."

Cashmere, which set up open outside shots with good ball movement and dribble penetration, gave the Ephrata defense trouble throughout the night.

"In the first half, we just weren't moving our feet," said Beierman of what left Cashmere shooters open on the perimeter.

"You don't notice it when they miss those shots," added the Ephrata coach.

When Ephrata needed it most though, their defense rose to the occasion and helped them get back into a game that was nearly out of reach.

In the third quarter the Lady Tigers found themselves down 18 points after Cashmere hit an uncontested 3-pointer to make the score 46-28 with 4:47 in the quarter.

From that point, Ephrata made nearly every defensive play that could be made during a 13-2 run to end the quarter. The Lady Tigers forced Cashmere to travel, drew charges, stole the ball and made the Bulldogs take a desperate shot as the shot clock expired on one possession. In a fitting end to the quarter, Cashmere's buzzer beater shot at the end of the quarter was soundly rejected by Neal.

As dominant as Ephrata was during the run, Cashmere's early excellence gave them more than enough of a cushion to absorb the Lady Tiger rally.

"They made the most of a lot of their possessions and we didn't," said Beierman of the offensive side of the game.

Neal led Ephrata with 22 points. Kyla Whitaker added 18 points for the Lady Tigers, including a 6 of 7 effort from the free-throw line.

Ephrata can still qualify for the state tournament when they take on Othello this Saturday in Wenatchee. Game time is scheduled for 10 a.m.

"We're down to our last chance," said Beierman. "It'll test you for your heart and determination; you better come ready to play."