In real life, 14 minutes can slip by without you even noticing.
In basketball time, it can seem like an eternity if things aren't going your way.
The Helias Lady Crusaders went a little more than 14 game minutes without scoring a point Friday in dropping a 54-39 decision to the Blue Springs South Lady Jaguars in the opening round of the State Farm Holiday Hoops Invitational at Rackers Fieldhouse.
"We were taking bad shots, we were missing easy shots, we missed a ton of free throws," Helias coach Doug Light said. "We weren't able to capitalize on anything, we couldn't stop the bleeding."
A three-point play by Kaysie Scheuler with :54.7 remaining in the first quarter gave the Lady Crusaders a 16-10 lead.
"We were looking good, but then, wow," Light said.
That was it on the scoreboard for Helias until 2:28 remained in the third quarter when Ashley Rehagen hit a 3-pointer to make it 35-19 in favor of Blue Springs South.
In that stretch, Helias was 0-of-10 from the field, 0-of-6 at the line and committed 15 turnovers.
"Some players tried to do too much, some backed off," Light said. "But you have to remember this is still a very young basketball team in terms of varsity experience. We have a lot of young kids out there, we're still trying to put things together.
"This was just a game where that inexperience got us."
The Lady Jaguars, who trailed 16-12 after the first quarter, got 3-pointers from Brooke Neal and Tiffany Davenport in the opening minute of the second period to take the lead for good. Blue Springs South totaled 20 points in the quarter and led 32-16 at the half.
Light said defensive breakdowns led to the big quarter for the Lady Jaguars.
"We weren't communicating and were leaving kids uncovered," he said.
The Lady Crusaders scored seven points in the third quarter and trailed 39-23 heading into the final period. The Lady Jaguars led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Neal, despite early foul trouble, finished with a game-high 17 points for the Lady Jaguars (5-2). Remy Davenport added 14, while Tiffany Davenport chipped in with 10.
Meghan Nappier led Helias (4-2) with eight points, while Darcy Baird pulled down 12 rebounds.
Molly Sandbothe, one of the first players off the bench for the Lady Crusaders, sat out the game after a fracture was discovered in her tibia.
"She's a strong player and we missed her," Light said.
Helias is back in action at 4 p.m. today in a loser's bracket game against Southeast (Oklahoma City, Okla.) High School, which fell 54-28 in the night's final game to Jefferson City.
"We want to come back and play," Light said. "We can't let this game beat us (today). We have to come out with great energy and be ready to go, learn our lessons and move on."
Blue Springs South will face Jefferson City in the winner's bracket semifinals at 7 p.m.