East Limestone's Alli Haataja goes up for a rebound against Pleasant Grove's Breanna Carpenter during the subregional game on Monday night.

The East Limestone girls basketball team enjoyed a historic season, winning both the Limestone County championship and Class 5A, Area 16 championship. But the Indians fell just short of their ultimate goal of making the Northwest Regional tournament, falling 54-41 to Pleasant Grove in the Northwest Subregional Monday night.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these girls,” East Limestone coach Josh Davis said after the game. “They ought to be proud of what they accomplished this season, area champs and county champs. I’m proud of them.”

East Limestone hadn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 50 points in a game since Nov. 28, but Pleasant Grove’s speed and athleticism, along with some clutch 3-point baskets combined with a poor shooting night from the Indians, made the difference in the game.

“We picked a bad night to really be cold,” Davis said. “But they (Pleasant Grove) are very athletic and that had something to do with it. Their speed was something we just couldn’t make up for right now.”

The game was tight throughout the first half, with East Limestone holding a 12-10 lead late in the first quarter before Pleasant Grove went on a quick 6-1 run to take a 16-13 lead at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was much more of a defensive struggle, and the Indians looked to be heading into the locker room down just two points before Tomesia Staten nailed a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give the Spartans a five-point lead heading into the break.

Pleasant Grove expanded the lead to 10 points early in the third quarter, but East Limestone fought back, getting the ball inside to Jirah Rogers, who scored nine points in the quarter to keep the Indians close.

As the clock ticked down to the end of the quarter, East was down just 35-30 and looked to have some momentum, but Staten once again hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put the Spartans up by eight points heading to the fourth, and any momentum the Indians might have had was lost.

Pleasant Grove scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to expand the lead to 16 points and cruised to the victory after that.

“That three right before the half and right at the end of the third quarter hurt us,” Davis said. “It would’ve been a two-point game at halftime, and that stretched it out to five, and then it ended up being an eight-point game at the end of three and we couldn’t recover.”

Rogers led East Limestone with 13 points, while Savannah Tyler scored seven. Pleasant Grove was led by Destiny Garrett with 16 points, Breanna Carpenter with 12 points and Maya Cunningham with 11.

East Limestone finished its season with a 23-7 record, but with most of its team returning, Davis thinks the Indians can be even better next season.

“We’re losing three sweet girls (seniors) and good basketball players, but the future is very bright,” Davis said. “I feel like the best is still yet to come.”