Harvey, Williston top Tift at Lowndes
Published 12:00 pm Saturday, December 21, 2024
VALDOSTA — DeAndre Harvey was a one-man wrecking crew Friday and the Tift County Blue Devils fell to Williston, Florida, in the Lowndes Christmas Tournament.
The Blue Devils were to play Florida State University High in their tournament finale Saturday night.
Williston, defending Class 1A champions from the Sunshine State, broke out of an 18-18 tie to win 55-34. This was only the second loss of the year for Tift, who entered with six wins.
It was a double Devils battle, Williston being Red Devils to Tift County’s Blue Devils. After Ben Hill’s short jumper tied the contest going into the half, Williston opened the third with eight straight points, four courtesy of Harvey.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Dai’jon Hayes checks traffic conditions as he prepares to go up for a third quarter layup.
J.J. Lamar pulled the Blue Devils to 26-22, scoring on a fast break and a jumper, Williston responded with 10 consecutive points. Harvey was a fiend during this run, hitting two three-pointers and scoring on a steal.
Da’ijon Hayes made a steal and layup to close out scoring in the frame, but Tift hadn’t made much headway, 36-24.
Any comeback odds were lessened on an 11-2 run midway through the fourth. Joel Washington had five points and once again, Harvey was everywhere with five more.
Tift’s youth finished out the game strong. Freshman Zamari Paulk scored on an offensive rebound and got another bucket off a behind-the-back pass from Dre Thomas.
The Blue Devils did not have the full lineup available in Valdosta, as starter Rio Brewton was out with injury.
Still, Tift had the early edge.
Kaden Lawson scored the squad’s first six points and he and Quay Bell combined to make six straight free throws as the Blue Devils went ahead 8-3 in the first four minutes.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Haven McMiller is fouled on a jump shot attempt. He’d make one of his attempts from the free throw line.
Harvey helped get his team going with a pair of dunks and the Red Devils had an 11-8 lead at the quarter.
The second frame was close throughout. Harvey staked Williston to a 13-8 advantage and Tift fired back with treys from Lamar and Javian Wilson to go back up at 14-13 with four minutes remaining.
Harvey had a three to go up two and Hill tied with on a jumper. Hill’s second jump shot of the half came with five seconds to spare.
Lawson’s nine points were the most for the Blue Devils and Lamar added eight points. Harvey had nearly half of Williston’s total at 26 points.
