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ATLANTA — Tift County almost pulled off the impossible. They briefly had the lead on Marist in the 4th quarter, but a late 3-pointer but a stop to the comeback and the Marist War Eagles advance to the second round of the Class 6A state tournament, 36-31.

Tift’s Blue Devils were in a terrible hole Wednesday. Marist scored the first 14 points of the game. In the 2nd period, they trailed 22-6.

Head coach Tommy Blackshear said his team didn’t quit in Atlanta.

Somehow, they worked their way back into the contest. Through three quarters, Marist’s lead dwindled, to 28-20. When McKyler Horne opened the 4th with an old-fashioned three-point play, they were in position to make a game out of it.

The Horne play ignited Tift. Malachi Evans hit a fadeaway to make it 28-25. J.J. Lamar hit a similar shot for a one-point game two minutes into the 4th. Two minutes after that, Lamar had the Devils ahead at 29-28.

The teams traded baskets, Kaden Lawson hitting a lofty jumper for Tift.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

Trace Gaynes stepped back for a 3-pointer with about 2:45 remaining. Tift County tried outside shots, they tried inside shots. Nothing else would fall. With the Devils forced to foul, Luke Harpring knocked down both free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the contest.

Tift County did not score until late in the 1st quarter. After a potential first point was wiped out on a lane violation, Corey Howard put back and offensive rebound, making it a 14-2 game.

Marist led off the 2nd with six straight points. Tift scored the final four of the period, from Jaden Nelson and Horne, but trailed by 12 points at the break.

Fred White, Horne and Lamar keyed a 5-0 run that finally got the deficit under 10 in the 3rd.

The Blue Devils spread out their scoring all season and the finale was no different. Nine players had a part in the 31 points. Lamar and Horne each tallied six, with White and Lawson with four each. Tift’s final record is 15-14.