Just like a year ago, Estero’s season ended with a quarterfinal loss in the Class 4A-District 11 girls basketball tournament, 58-43 to LaBelle.

But what a difference this time.

Junior guard Megan Phillips made sure the Wildcats didn’t endure another embarrassing exit like the team did last year when they scored just three points against South Fort Myers.

Phillips drained a game-high 21 points Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough for No. 6 Estero to pull off an upset against No. 3 LaBelle.

The Cowgirls used 17 points from Ada Johnson and 14 points from Chelsey Ramos to advance at Cypress Lake High.

Estero (6-17) trailed 20-9 after the first quarter and never sliced the deficit to single digits, but they didn’t go quietly.

“They’re a well-coached team,” said LaBelle coach Jeff Burton. “You’ve got to be in shape and ready to play because they throw so many people at you.”

Phillips nearly single-handily kept Estero in the game.

The Wildcats trailed 37-21 at halftime and were down by as many as 21 in the third when Phillips scored eight straight points, including two of her four 3-pointers on the night.

“She had a great game,” said Burton.

LaBelle (18-5) always maintained a safe double digit lead, including a 45-31 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. But this was a much tougher win for the Cowgirls than when the teams met in the regular season.

“I was extremely proud of my team,” said Estero coach Jay VanHook. “LaBelle beat us by (38 points) the last game. We came back with enthusiasm and intensity.”

Freshman Maya Rismay (9 points) and junior Jackie Murray (7 points) also contributed offensively for the Wildcats. Murray left the game with six minutes left due to a leg injury.

On Friday at 7 p.m., LaBelle will play the winner of Tuesday’s late quarterfinal between No. 2 Cypress Lake and No. 7 Clewiston. Friday’s other semifinal pits No. 1 South Fort Myers against No. 4 Lemon Bay at 5 p.m.

The championship will be Saturday at 7 p.m. All games are at Cypress Lake.