The Chiawana girls basketball team ran into a brick wall in the form of Gonzaga Prep on Saturday.

The Riverhawks were outmuscled early on and spotted the Bullpups a big lead before succumbing 58-41 in a District 5/8 Tournament elimination game.

The loss ends Chiawana’s season, while Gonzaga Prep advances to the Class 4A regional playoffs.

The game was less than 24 hours since Chiawana suffered a 71-69 overtime loss to Mead.

“I don’t know if it was the hangover or they came out physical and we didn’t respond to it,” Chiawana coach Steve Davis said. “Their pressure was something we hadn’t seen all year and it took us awhile to adjust to it.

“You can’t spot a team like that, that big of a lead at halftime and expect to win.”

Chiawana (17-7 overall) committed eight first-quarter turnovers, and had 14 by halftime and trailed 34-17. The Riverhawks struggled against Gonzaga Prep’s guard play, led by Laura Stockton and Hannah Caudill.

It also didn’t hurt that the Bullpups shot lights out from the perimeter — something Chiawana was not expecting.

Gonzaga Prep (21-3) made 8-of-19 3-pointers in the game, including three during an 18-3 run.

After two free throws by Danielle Loving pulled Chiawana within 10-8 with 2:20 left in the first quarter, Kayla Leland and Wendy Gregory hit jumpers to end the quarter with Gonzaga Prep on top 14-8.

Leland then hit a 3-pointer and two jumpers and Stockton added a 3-pointer. In between a 3-ball by Gregory, Chiawana’s Jennifer Gonzales made a free throw and Bianca Gonzales a layup. But the damage was done as Gonzaga Prep led 28-11 with 4:52 remaining in the first half.

“We just didn’t handle the physical play,” Chiawana’s Delaney Hodgins said. “That’s why they beat us so bad in the first half. We were a little worn down (from Friday night), but we were expecting it.”

Hodgins struggled throughout the night, as the Bullpups defense focused on her and tried to contain Chiawana’s dribble-drive offense.

“We did a nice job of on ball defense and stopping their drives to the basket,” Gonzaga Prep coach Mike Arte said.

Chiawana did put together a bit of a rally in the third quarter, pulling within 36-26 with 3:31 left in the period, but the Bullpups closed the quarter with an 8-3 run to stretch the lead back out.

“The difference today was that we didn’t have that fire we did (Friday),” Chiawana’s Danielle Loving said. “We got back together after the loss, but sometimes teams just have those games.”

Bianca Gonzales’ 11 points led the Riverhawks, while Hodgins finished with 10 and Braydey Hodgins added seven points.

Chiawana shot just 28.2 percent from the field on 11-of-39 shooting, and committed 20 turnovers.

“They made shots — everyone did. And that tore up our gameplan,” Davis said.

Leland’s 20 points led the Bullpups, while Stockton added 14 and Gregory had 10.

While Chiawana’s season is over, the Riverhawks did finish with league and district tournament titles. Not bad for a squad that featured just three seniors, one of which missed nearly the entire year.

“I enjoyed the run,” Davis said. “I thought it was a great season with all the adversity and all the injuries. I’m really proud of what they accomplished.”

It was especially nice for Loving, who played in her first two games of the season this weekend. And while it didn’t end the way she may have hoped, it was still nice to get on the florr after partially tearing her Achilles’ tendon the second day of practice in November.

“Deep down I always knew I was going to play,” she said. “It feels good to prove everybody wrong.

“This whole year has been an experience.”

GONZAGA PREP — Oona Harrington 0 0-0 0, Otiona Gildon 4 0-0 8, Hannah Caudill 2 0-0 5, Laura Stockton 5 2-2 14, Kayla Leland 8 1-2 20, Mary Hoffman 0 1-2 1, Wendy Gregory 4 0-0 10, Lauren Weir 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 4-6 58.

CHIAWANA — Delaney Hodgins 4 0-0 10, Molly Sullivan 0 1-2 1, Danielle Loving 1 3-4 5, Jennifer Gonzales 1 1-5 4, Bianca Gonzales 3 4-4 11, Braydey Hodgins 1 4-6 7, Bailey Cartwright 1 0-0 2, Cierah Alferness 0 1-2 1, Sierra Perez 0 0-0 0, Audrey Burton 0 0-0 0, Darbi Pink 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 14-23 41.

Gonzaga Prep 14 20 10 14 — 58

Chiawana 8 9 12 12 — 41

3-point goals—Gonzaga Prep 8 (Leland 3, Stockton 2, Gregory 2, Caudill), Chiawana 4 (D. Hodgins 2, B. Hodgins, B. Gonzales). Rebounds—Gonzaga Prep 26 (Gildon 9), Chiawana 40 (D. Hodgins, B. Gonzales 5). Turnovers—Gonzaga Prep 8, Chiawana 20. Total fouls—Gonzaga Prep 19, Chiawana 7.