APEX - With 1:45 left in the fourth quarter Friday, Apex coach Scott Campbell subbed out Kim Durham, Charli Leto and Samantha Elchook — three seniors — for one final ovation from their home fans.

Despite their and their teammates’ best efforts, the Cougars’ postseason run was out of magic, and they eventually succumbed in the sectional final to Millbrook 58-33.

“They’re a really good team playing at a really high level,” said Campbell, whose team also lost two regular-season dates with the Wildcats. “If it didn’t end our season, I’m thrilled for [Millbrook coach] Chris [East] and I love the fact that they’re going to Greenville.”

The Cougars (22-9) were never able to establish any sort of rhythm offensively Friday. They shot 23 percent from the floor, including a 4-for-24 effort in the second half. Durham scored more than half her team’s points (17), and no one else had more than six.

Apex’s struggles from the floor began from the start. Its first seven offensive possessions ended with five turnovers, a jump ball and an offensive foul. It took the Cougars nearly five minutes to score their first two points — a pair of Durham free throws — and their first made field goal came on Bethany Collins’ jump shot with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

“We spent way too much time in the half court,” Campbell said. “Even early, I said everything we’re doing in the half court is Kim dribbling around trying to create something. And they play really good half-court defense. They’re very physical and aggressive, and it just takes you out of your offense.”

Despite the struggles, Collins’ jumper made the score 7-4.

Early in the second quarter, Apex scored on three straight possessions — a Collins layup, a Kris Harris layup, a Durham 3-pointer — and took a 13-10 lead.

Down 16-15 at halftime, Campbell and the Cougars talked about how they had done very little well, and yet they were only down by a point.

Millbrook hadn’t been much better during the first 16 minutes, but the Wildcats opened the game up by pushing the tempo in the third quarter.

They outscored Apex 18-4, scoring repeatedly on easy inside baskets.

The Cougars didn’t help themselves with a 1-for-10 shooting effort.

“[In the second half], we settled down and started doing what we do best, which is getting after it defensively, push the ball on the break,” East said. “Like I tell everybody, we’re a pretty tough team to beat when we stick with our offense and run.”

The Cougars cut the deficit to 11 after a Durham layup with 6:33 to play, but Millbrook vanquished any hopes of a comeback when Elaine Morgan (17 points) buried a crowd-displeasing 3-pointer on her team’s next offensive possession.

As the final minutes ticked off the clock, Millbrook had worn down Apex so much that on one play, Crystal Wilson stole the ball then turned around and raced by four Apex players on her way to the hoop before dumping the ball off to Morgan for an uncontested layup.

While dispirited by the end, Campbell said he hopes his players will realize how special their season was.

After a 1-5 start, the Cougars finished the year winning 21 of 25.

Their playoff run included a surprising 57-51 win over Hope Mills South View, the reigning 4-A state champion, in the second round.

“It’s really hard for the kids to see it in that light now,” Campbell said. “We were 1-5, and then we won 21 games. We just lost to a really good team [tonight]. At some point you’ll go, ‘That was a pretty good year.’ But now, you’re not thinking about it.

“It’s what getting beat means. It means they don’t come to practice anymore. And this has been a really fun group. … That’s what really tears them up. We got to go a week longer than a lot of teams. Be proud of it.”