AUTAUGAVILLE —Ellwood Christian went into Tuesday night’s sub-regional game at Autaugaville hoping to make school history. Instead, Ellwood came up four points short.

Ellwood lost 56-52 in the Eagles’ try to make it to Montgomery for the Central Regional for the first time in the school’s short history. Tuesday was already historic for Ellwood, as it marked the first time the Eagles had ever reached the sub-regional round of the AHSAA playoffs.

“It was a dogfight all night,” said Ellwood Christian coach Darrell Walker.

Neither team led by more than four points the entire game.

Autaugaville led 30-26 at halftime and 40-38 after the third quarter.

“I’m very proud of my guys,” Walker said. “We made it all the way from scratch and came four points away from going to Alabama State.”

Rayford Mitchell, a senior, scored 12 points to lead the way for the Eagles and Chris Lee chipped in another 11 points.

Freshman Derrick Griffin rounded out the Ellwood players in double figures with 10 points.

The Eagles missed 17 free throws over the course of the game, which ended up being a big factor in the final score.

“It was a tough loss, but like I told my underclassmen, if you don’t want to feel this feeling again you’ve got to get in the gym,” Walker said.

Autaugaville will play in Montgomery Thursday against Cornerstone Christian, who defeated Notasulga by one Tuesday night. The winner of Autaugaville-Cornerstone will meet the winner of Keith-Jefferson Christian in the regional championship game next week.