TIFTON — One week after a pair of tough Christmastime games at Lowndes, the Tift County Blue Devils got to have some fun Friday at their own Christmas Classic.

The Devils blasted Lanier County, 52-29, not only emptying the bench in the fourth quarter, but giving the last unit extended playing time.

Tift takes on Cook tonight at 8:30 p.m., but not before the Lady Devils play Appling County in a game where Jimmya Cushion will be aiming for her 1,000th career point at 7.

Action begins at 4 p.m. with Crisp County taking on Lanier County. Fitzgerald and Irwin play at 5:30. Admission is $10 per person.

In first-day action, Fitzgerald wore down Cook, 62-39. Crisp had a hot start against Irwin, up 42-11 at halftime before a 72-37 victory.

Kaden Lawson barely missed a double-double for the Blue Devils against Lanier, scoring 16 points and pulling down 9 rebounds, according to assistant Vernon Moore.

J.J. Lamar joined Lawson in double-figures with 13 points. Cordell Nelson scored 8. Eleven players scored in the blowout.

In just the third ever meeting between the teams — all within the last four years — Tift jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first minute on a pair of Lawson baskets. Ashton Cook made a jumper to tie 4-4 at 4:41 and Lanier held it close for the quarter.

Lamar and Nelson doubled the lead to 8-4. Lanier answered at 8-6 and 10-8, but a pair of Ben Hill free throws with six seconds left gave the Devils a 12-8 advantage and the Bulldogs began running short of answers.

Lawson scored twice to open the second, including a big dunk on an offensive rebound. Chris Locklear had his own slam after jumping the passing lane for a steal, but Tift had the next seven points, including Lawson’s second dunk and a three by Lamar.

Lanier was held to four points in both the second and fourth frames. Javontae Fudge had the other basket in the second, the only hoop for the visitors during what stretched into a 12-2 run. The Blue Devils led 28-12 at the break.

After Lamar pushed the lead to 30-12, Lanier battled its way back a bit. With three minutes to go in the third, Cook made a triple to a 34-21 score. But Tift ended any comeback hopes quickly as Lawson banked in a jumper 15 seconds later. Nelson dunked and the lead went back up to 17.

Lawson’s third slam came 50 seconds into the fourth. A fast break by Lamar, a Nelson block and Javian Wilson going to coast to coast on a defensive rebound allowed first unit to take an early seat.

Zamari Paulk, Haven McMiller and Dre Thomas finished up scoring.

The loss was only the second of the season for the Bulldogs, who came in with a seven-game win streak after dropping its opener to Berrien. Lanier is led by Shan Garner, a Lady Devils assistant a few seasons ago. Tift rose to 7-3.