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By MATT GOLDBERG

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team walked out of Hickman High School Friday night wondering, "What if?"

* "What if" the Raiders had made one more free throw down the stretch.

* "What if" a last-second pass had not been picked off by a Hickman defender.

What the Raiders had to realize is they came up a few plays short in a 72-69 loss.

Ryan Stuckman's free throw with 11.8 seconds left tied his career high of 32 points.

But the Quincy Notre Dame senior couldn't tie the game at 70, missing the second of a one-and-one.

"That's a one-possession game," Stuckman said. "So we lost that in the first quarter with a missed box out or in the second quarter with a travel or something. So, ultimately it could have come down to that (free throw). But I've got to look at it as it's just a team thing and I've got to not let it bother me."

Hickman's Chris Alexander corralled the rebound and made a pair of free throws, to put the Kewpies up 72-69, with 10.4 seconds left in the game.

The Kewpies (8-2) immediately called a timeout after Alexander's free throw, giving the Raiders (11-4) a chance to set up their final play.

QND's Zac Ufkes inbounded the ball from underneath Hickman's basket to point guard Jake Darnell, who dribbled the ball three quarters of the court. At the top of the key, Darnell tried to feed Stuckman in the corner for a 3-pointer.

But the Kewpies' Jerald Hickem stepped into the passing lane and intercepted the ball.

"It's kind of funny," QND coach Scott Douglas said. "We've been on Jake about taking one less dribble. I'm not sure if maybe one more dribble might have opened up Ryan. ... If (Darnell) could have got it to (Stuckman), it looked like Ryan was going to have a look at it."

Hickem pushed the ball up to Spenser Washington, who was fouled by Darnell with 1.1 seconds left.

Washington missed the front end of a one-and-one situation, and QND's Brennan Rakers (11 points) grabbed the rebound and heaved up a full-court prayer, which was wide right.

It was the Raiders' first trip to Columbia since a 60-29 loss to Rock Bridge in Feb. 2007 when QND wasn't notified when halftime had ended.

This trip to Columbia was just as crazy.

"There were some things that happened tonight," Douglas said. "... Some weird stuff that I'm not sure about."

The numerous clock controversies seemed trivial compared with the situation that happened with 1:18 left.

After being fouled by Stuckman, Hickman's Eric Franklin, who had 17 points, tossed the ball at Stuckman, causing the Kewpie to be called for a technical foul.

It seemed like a game-changing opportunity for the Raiders. Stuckman made the two freebies to cut the deficit to 66-65, and QND assumed it would have the ensuing possession.

However, the officials ruled since it was Hickman's possession at the time of the stoppage, it should be the Kewpies ball. Douglas flagged down the officials and the crew spent two or three minutes discussing it before one of them put his arm around Douglas's waist -- consoling him with news he knew Douglas wasn't going to agree with.

"I don't understand why it makes a difference that there was a foul called on us, that's a non-shooting foul, and why a technical doesn't supersede that and you don't get two shots and the ball," Douglas said. "... I know (the referee) thought he had it right. ... But I really find that hard to believe."

Hickman scored on the extra possession.

The game featured a back-and-forth first half as each team led by as many as eight and QND took a 37-29 lead into halftime. After a second quarter in which the Raiders outscored the Kewpies 20-6, Hickman outscored QND 20-9 to start the second half.

But the Raiders recovered, scoring the final five points to take a 50-49 lead into the fourth quarter.

Hickman took the lead for good with 5:27 left in the game on a Marcus Whitt transition basket, giving the Kewpies a 58-57 advantage.