Fayette’s basketball season came to an end on Wednesday with a 72-45 loss to Stover in the district semifinals.

The Falcons trailed 15-11 early in the second quarter when the Bulldogs took control of the game with a 12-0 run. Stover led 38-19 by the end of the first half.

Fayette coach Valerie Foland said it was difficult for her team to adjust to the shot-blocking ability of their opponents after urging her team to drive the ball into the paint all season.

“It was hard for them to adapt to,” she said. “I think (Stover) played a great game.

“We were hoping the momentum from Monday was going to fall into tonight and it just wasn’t quite there. Stover was very on and we just had a hard time even getting shots up.”

The Falcons’ leading scorer, Abbey Conrow, was frustrated in the first half, scoring three points and picking up three fouls. Conrow made three 3-pointers in the third quarter to keep the lead around 20 points.

Kylea Hoover scored seven of her team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter. She had also had 10 rebounds and four steals. Conrow finished with 12 points.

Syndey Spielbauer had the best shooting day for Fayette, going 5-8 for 11 points.

After starting the season 4-13, the Falcons won four of the next five and upset Cole Camp in the district quarterfinal to finish 9-16.

“These girls finished the season showing so much improvement and determination,” Foland said. “All season I’ve been talking about that missing puzzle piece that we needed to find to hit our potential and we finally found it at the end.”

Fayette will lose just Conrow to graduation from its eight-player rotation.

Hoover, a 5-foot 4-inch junior, finishes the season as the Falcons’ top rebounder after grabbing 30 over her final three games. Sophomores Spielbauer and Laci Fuhlage were second and third on the team in scoring.

“Next year, Abbey will be so missed but I look forward to seeing what this young group of girls can do after getting some experience and putting some work in over the summer,” Foland said.

“This group competed in all games with older, more experienced girls so the possibilities are endless for what they can accomplish next year after gaining that experience.”