The No. 4-ranked Pleasant Home Eagles (23-8) put together one of the best season’s in recent school victory, but saw that season end on Tuesday night after a 62-44 loss to the No. 3-ranked Georgiana Panthers in the Class 1A South Regional Championship game in Dothan.

“I can’t even begin to say how proud I am of these boys,” Pleasant Home head coach Troy Turman said. “This was the most wins we have had in year since my junior year in 2002. These kids came in every day and worked to improve. They can hold their heads high because they have left their mark on this program.”

Pleasant Home won the opening tip off and senior point guard Walt Weaver quickly turned it into points to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

“Walt played his tail off tonight,” Turman said. “He is my senior point guard and there is no doubt that he gave it everything he had tonight.”

Robert Scott added a pair of free throws and Nic Woods dropped in reverse layup that left the Eagles trailing 14-8 entering the second period.

Woods connected from downtown to get the Eagles started in the second period  and then a pair of free throws from Weaver cut the Panther lead down to 18-13 with 4:50 left before halftime.

Scott picked up a 3-pointer and Weaver added another layup just before halftime, but Georgiana was on top 27-18 heading into the third period.

Georgiana came out firing on all cylinders in the third period with several big 3-pointers from JerMichael Stallworth that extended the Panther lead to 46-26 heading into the final frame.

The Eagles continued attempt to claw back into the game, but the speedy and athletic Panthers’ defense wreaked havoc on the Eagles.

Georgiana was able to hold off the Eagles for a 62-44 victory to earn a spot in next week’s Final Four in Birmingham.

“We just struggled to get in our offense in the second half,” Turman said. “They were very physical and we just didn’t handle it well. They got out front big early and we fought back, but in the second half we just kept losing track of No. 2 (Stallworth) and he was getting open on the backside. You have to give Georgiana credit, though, they had a great game plan and they executed it well.”

Turman said that his team did some things well, but just couldn’t top Georgiana.

“We didn’t play bad,” Turman said. “Georgiana played like the experienced playoff team that they are. I’m still very proud of the way my guys fought and found ways to win all season.”