Pleasant Grove girls basketball battles to win at American Fork
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- Pleasant Grove sophomore Makayla Boyer goes up for a layup during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Sabrina Hansen goes up for a shot during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Ma’ele Tuiasoa drives to the basket during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Samantha Smith goes up for a layup during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Tabi Clark drives to the basket during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Kora Kennington shoots a jump shot during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove sophomore Makayla Boyer drives the baseline during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Ambri Jenson drives to the basket during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Jada Ross shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Samantha Smith drives to the basket during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove freshman McCoy Larson dribbles the ball during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Ma’ele Tuiasoa dribbles through traffic during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- American Fork head coach Aimee Dorais watches her team during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove head coach Lacey Larson encourages her team during the Region 3 game at American Fork on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
The Pleasant Grove girls basketball team has dealt with injuries and growing pains as it had a tough time getting on track during the first round of Region 3 action.
But while this Viking team may be young and learning, it doesn’t give up.
Pleasant Grove had to dig deep during Tuesday night’s game at American Fork, another team that has had some struggles this season but always fights hard.
The Vikings and Cavemen both had chances to come up with big plays down the stretch but it was Pleasant Grove that got the job done, holding on for the tough 44-42 win.
“We talked a lot about rebounding and taking care of the basketball,” Pleasant Grove head coach Lacey Larson said. “I think this year, especially in our region, you just can’t give away possessions because every possession is so important. Limiting turnovers and taking care of the basketball is huge for us.”
The Vikings took the lead for good when they broke a 21-21 tie in the second quarter and closed out the half on a 7-2 run.
But although Pleasant Grove led by as many as seven points in the second half, American Fork always battled back.
The Cavemen put together a 6-0 run to cut the Viking edge to just a single point at 41-40 with 1:39 on the clock.
That’s when things got a little crazy.
“It was chaotic and stressful,” Larson said. “It’s always tough going up against American Fork. We knew we weren’t done and that we had to play until the very last second.”
American Fork forced a Pleasant Grove turnover and got a solid look in the paint to take the lead with just under a minute to play, but the shot was just a touch too strong and the Vikings secured the rebound.
The Cavemen got Pleasant Grove to bobble the ball with the time winding down, but the Vikings got to it first and an American Fork diving for it ended up committing a foul.
It was only the fourth foul of the quarter for American Fork, but it meant the shot clock was turned off and the Cavemen had to foul.
Pleasant Grove got the ball to its only senior, Jada Ross, who calmly stepped up and drained both free throws with 18 seconds left.
American Fork still had a chance and although an interior pass ended up being too low, it went to the corner where the Cavemen got a decent chance at the game-tying 3-pointer.
That shot went long, but American Fork got to the rebound and scored with just under three seconds left.
On the inbounds pass, the Cavemen thought they had forced a steal only to have an extremely late whistle stun the home team.
“They were trying to foul since they had to get the ball back,” Larson said. “In that key moment, we had to get the ball and secure it.”
The foul resulted in a made free throw by Viking junior Ma’ele Tuiasoa and American Fork wasn’t able to get another shot off, giving Pleasant Grove the win.
Larson credited American Fork head coach Aimee Dorais, who she worked with earlier in her career, for always putting her team in position to succeed.
“I learned a lot from her,” Larson said. “She always knows how to keep games close.”
The Vikings now have a pair of two-point wins in their last three games, including a 60-58 home victory over Lehi. Larson said she hopes her team is figuring out how to close things out.
“It was really good for them to see some of those things to learn from,” Larson said. “When we get in those situations, because we have been there before we will handle them better the next time.”
That is particularly true for a talented but still inexperienced Viking squad.
“We are super-young,” Larson said. “We also had two starters out earlier, which was good for the freshmen to get experience but it’s tough to be thrown into those situations. Hopefully that time now helps them be more calm and comfortable when they get in the game. It’s been good.”
Pleasant Grove (8-12) hosts Westlake on Friday, while American Fork (4-15) plays at Lone Peak the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
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