By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
TIFTON — Jessica Covington hit a driving layup with 2.2 seconds left in the game to give Tift County a 48-46 win over Warner Robins Tuesday night at the TCHS Arena.
After an Amber McKenzie free throw with 1:12 remaining gave the Lady Devils a 46-40 lead, the Demonettes scored six consecutive points over the next minute to tie the game at 46 on a pair of free throws by Asha Stegall.
Tift quickly inbounded the ball to Covington, who came down the floor and hit a leaning one-handed layup to give the Lady Devils (9-4, 1-2) a two-point lead.
It was the only basket in the game for Covington.
After officials put time back on the clock, the Demonettes threw a long pass down the court and Tift’s Tionna Barnes broke up the pass — giving the Lady Devils their first region win of the season.
Tift opened the game with eight consecutive points, quickly drawing a timeout from Warner Robins head coach Tom Mobley.
Diamond Hudson’s basket at the buzzer pulled the Demonettes (10-3, 2-3) to within three at 14-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Tift led 28-18 at the half, and extended the lead to 11 at the end of the third period.
McKenzie and Noelle Okongwu each scored 11 for the Lady Devils. Barnes added eight points in the win.
Hudson had 22 points to lead all scorers.
Tift went 11-of-20 from the line and had 15 fouls called, while the Demonettes hit 8-of-16 from the charity stripe. Warner Robins had 18 total fouls called against them.
In the boys game, Tift’s Rod Downs exploded for four 3-pointers in the first half, as the Devils took an easy 65-44 win over the Demons to improve to 12-1 and 3-0 in Region 1-AAAAA play.
Content in a zone defense to limit Blue Devil big man Breon Dixon, the Devils unleashed a barrage of 3’s in the first half of play. Vernon Moore had three 3-point baskets, as the Devils had leads of 24-9 and 43-21 at the end of the first and second quarters, respectively.
The Demons (4-7, 1-4) outscored the Blue Devils 15-10 in the final period, mostly against Tift’s reserves.
Downs and Moore each had 20 points for Tift, and Dixon contributed with six points — including a big dunk in the first quarter.
Tift will travel to Moultrie to take on Colquitt County Friday night at 7 p.m.
NOTES: The Devils played without Micah McCant and Malcolm Dixon Tuesday, as both players were practicing for an all-star football game to be held in Valdosta Saturday. A’Kail Parker will also play in the all-star game at Martin Stadium.
Dixon was also out for Saturday’s win over Lowndes. The senior went on an official football visit to Charleston Southern over the weekend; and according to football coach Jay Walls, Dixon gave a verbal commitment to the Buccaneers.
