Miller scores 20, but Tift out in Sweet 16

Published 10:00 pm Friday, February 24, 2023

ATLANTA — A red hot Marist established themselves as one of the toughest teams remaining in the Class 6A state basketball tournament. Friday, Feb. 24, they eliminated the Tift County Lady Devils from competition, 61-37.

“I couldn’t ask for more,” said head coach Julie Conner about her team’s effort Friday night as she and the team traveled south down I-75. “I’m so proud of our girls.”

Led by Kate Harpring, Marist scored 20 points in one quarter, then nearly doubled that in the 2nd to lead 37-16 at intermission. Harpring, a freshman, is ranked by ESPN W as one of the top players nationally in the Class of 2026. She scored 26 points on the night.

Harpring was not the only scoring sensation on the floor.

Jalaya Miller finished with 20 points for Tift County, including all eight of their tallies in the 3rd period.

“She had an incredible game,” Conner said. Twenty points is a new career high for Miller.

The Lady Devils outscored Marist 13-11 in the 4th quarter, finishing on an 8-2 run. They avoided a mercy rule, with two Miller baskets in the last couple of minutes of the 3rd.

Faith Hillmon, Makayla Bryant and Jimmya Cushion had baskets in the first four minutes, keeping Tift close at 8-6. Marist was a force on the offensive glass, though, and coupled with a deadly outside aim, they finished the 1st on a 12-3 streak.

The Lady Devils had trouble shaking Marist on offensive, getting few clear looks. Miller had success driving inside and also hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Jakembre Beckhom had a pair of 4th period buckets. She and Hillmon had 4 points apiece. Cushion scored 7and Bryant rounded out the scoring with 2 points.

Tift ends with a 22-6 record for the season. Elsewhere in the state, the remaining Region 1-6A teams were eliminated as well. Rockdale County defeated Lee County, 65-43 and Lovejoy gave neither to Veterans, 72-53.