VALDOSTA – Tift County’s Lady Devils pulled off one of the state’s biggest upsets this year Saturday night, knocking off No. 9 Lowndes in double overtime, 57-55.

Lowndes entered the night 17-2 and 6-0 in Region 1-6A. Even more special for Tift, the Vikettes were celebrating Senior Night.

The result means even more considering a pair of losses. Tift dropped a 38-25 game Friday at Richmond Hill. And 28 days ago, the Lady Devils failed to hit a first-half field goal in a 52-28 loss to Lowndes.

“We played out of our minds,” said head coach Julie Conner-Johnson.

Jalaya Miller had a career high 31 points, sinking five three-pointers and going 12-of-16 from the free throw line. Amiya Jordan chipped in 12 before fouling out.

Defense told its own tale. Conner-Johnson tried a different defense. It worked. Aryana Thomas had a mere two points in regulation before getting nine in overtime. Though Kaci Demps led Lowndes with 18, “We still played her very, very well.”

Ke’nashah Mitchell played a great defensive game, Conner-Johnson said, with Miller, Jaziyah Johnson and Mariyah Batts also crunching down on the Vikettes’ shooters. Under the basket, Mackenzie Holliday had 18 rebounds.

Tift had a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and were up 23-17 at halftime. An 11-5 fourth quarter sent the game to OT.

“I told them, ‘You enjoy this win tonight,'” said Conner-Johnson. “We worked every single second. The girls believed. I am so proud of them.”

The win bounces the Lady Devils to a tie for fourth in the region standings with Colquitt County. Tift has two region games remaining, both a home – Camden County is in Friday and Valdosta (0-8) on Saturday. The Lady Devils also have a non-region game Tuesday at Veterans.