Devils, Westover go to 4 overtimes

Published 11:15 am Wednesday, December 14, 2022

TIFTON — Two very different basketball games were played Tuesday, Dec. 13, between Tift County and Westover at the Palace, one low-scoring and the other an extended thriller.

The Lady Devils claimed the low scoring contest, 36-31 and the Blue Devils and Westover staged an all-time classic in the nightcap, one that finally went to the Patriots on a 74-73 score and four overtime periods.

Tift survived the opening game. Head coach Julie Conner agreed with the use of that term for it. The two sides combined for six points in the 4th quarter. Westover scored four of those, but fortunately the Lady Devils were ahead by eight (35-27) going into the frame and were never under too much pressure.

Westover’s length and unforced errors on Tift’s part kept the contest fairly close.

After an opening basket by LaDaja Caldwell, the Lady Devils came back with seven straight points, capped by a 3-pointer by Jalaya Miller. O’ashia Cushion hit two from distance in the 1st period, half of her total for the game.

Jakembre Beckhom had several blocks for the contest, including one that saw her race down the court to recover from a turnover to deny the visitors points.

Jada Landers gave Westover its last lead at 15-14 at 6:01 in the 2nd. Though they briefly tied it up, the rest of the half belonged to Tift. Miller assisted Jimmya Cushion on a 3. O’ashia Cushion hit two straight to keep the streak going.

Tift outscored the Lady Patriots 14-2 over the last 4:16 of the 2nd quarter, finishing it up with a 3-point attempt from Jimelyah Cushion that bounced straight up off the rim before deciding to go through. It was 28-17 at intermission.

The points slowed down for the Lady Devils afterwards, but the defense stayed tight. Jimmya Cushion and Caldwell scored 5 points each in the 3rd, with Rayven Thurston potentially putting Westover in striking distance at 35-27 at the end of the 3rd.

However, that potential breakthrough for Westover never happened.

Makayla Bryant started the 4th with a steal of a Westover inbounds pass, which turned into points. Those turned out to be Tift’s only points of the 4th, but at 37-27 they had enough.

Caldwell and Lundyn Walker scored baskets, Walker’s at 2:10. But that would be as close as it go, even with Tift missing a one-and-one. The Lady Patriots had a turnover for being too slow on an inbounds pass and a free throw attempt with 12 seconds to go was an airball.

Tift’s scoring leaders were two of the Cushions — O’ashia and Jimmya — with 12 points apiece. Beckhom and Jimelyah Cushion were next closest at 4 points each.

Caldwell scored 12 for Westover.

WESTOVER 74, DEVILS 73

Tift got the put-back, but the Patriots beat the buzzer. The 4-overtime game is longest in school history and was a back-and-forth affair from opening tip to Kavon Johnson’s winner for Westover.

Regulation ended at 49-49. The Devils missed a shot with two seconds left that might have ended it, but instead the game was only beginning. The teams played the equivalent of an extra half of basketball with the four four-minute sessions.

Johnson’s jumper put Westover ahead at 2:20 in the first extra period. The Patriots missed free throws after and Will Clark lost part of a tooth diving in an attempt to save a ball from going out of bounds. He would not return. The score held at 53-51, Westover, until a turnaround jumper by Tyler Parker with three seconds to go.

In overtime No. 2, Westover jumped out 57-53 at 1:52. Ty’Quan Mills made both free throws after being fouled on a steal, then Parker came through in the clutch once more when Henry Gebhart assisted him on a jumper with 25 seconds left. A block by McKyler Horne took away the Pats’ best chance and sent it to a third overtime.

Tift was the team ahead in this one, courtesy of Parker and Horne. Gebhart extended the advantage to 63-58 at 2:08, but it was the the Patriots who came clawing back. Kemari Laeverette hit a fallaway 3-pointer as time expired, knotting the score at 65-65.

Legs were beginning to be liability in the fourth overtime. Already missing Clark and Christian Jones (who fouled out), Parker and Kobe Farrie were affected by cramps. The last minute saw a resurgence for both teams. Gebhart put the Devils up at 71-69 with a 3, but Leverette immediately followed with one of his own.

Mills followed up on a rebound with 5 seconds to go and Tift was ahead, 73-72. The Patriots didn’t bother with a timeout and Johnson’s floater went through the net as the horn sounded.

Tuesday’s game was extremely close throughout. Neither team led by more than six points at any time. Westover led by five in the 1st and 2nd quarters, but in each the lead shrank to a single point at the end of each.

Mills had 5 points in the 1st period and Farrie had 8 at the half as the Patriots were up 26-25 at intermission.

The 3rd quarter was Tift’s. An 11-4 run gave them their biggest advantage at 36-30. Davis Byrnes knocked down two shots during that streak, with Mills delivering from behind the arc. However, Westover scored the last five points of the frame and it was 36-35, Devils, going into the 4th.

Four Blue Devils finished in double figures in a very balanced scoring effort. Parker scored his 500th career point with a 14-point effort. Mills and Farrie had 10 apiece, with Gebhart at 10. Clark scored 9 before having to exit.

Leverette finished with 21 for Westover, with Johnson at 19. Anthony Milton contributed 11 and Jeremiah Waters and Tracy Williams each scored 10 points.

Tift has two home games to finish out the week. They will host Sumter County Dec. 16 and Valdosta Dec. 17.