The Callaway girls basketball team came up just short in the region championship against Morgan County on Saturday, falling 62-51.

The game came down to the wire with the Bulldogs using a fourth-quarter explosion to earn the victory. 

The first quarter spelled doom for the Cavaliers as they could not overcome the early hole they dug for themselves. Callaway could muster just five points in the first quarter and trailed by seven points heading to the second quarter.

The Cavaliers’ offense showed signs of life in the second, but the team still had to settle for a 7-point deficit heading to halftime.  

Callaway came out of halftime with a purpose, outscoring the Bulldogs 17-12 to cut the Morgan County lead to just two points heading to the fourth.

All the good work the Cavaliers did in the third was quickly unraveled in the fourth. The Bulldogs outscored Callaway 24-15 to claim the region title. 

Despite going scoreless in the first quarter, senior Raniya Mahone ended up leading the Cavaliers in scoring with 14 points while adding seven rebounds. 

Shakenja Wotham finished with 11 points as the only other Cavalier to reach double figures in scoring.

Callaway will take a record of 15-9 into the state playoffs. The Cavaliers will await to see who their first-round opponent will be but are guaranteed to host in at least the first round.