Tift, Tiftarea warm up for basketball season

CHULA — Tiftarea Academy and Tift County girls basketball teams warmed up Tuesday with the first ever scrimmage game between the two.

Under the lights of the Chuladome, Tift’s Lady Devils compiled an 81-25 score.

The Lady Devils scored the first 18 points of the game before Tiftarea’s Mckenna Graham knocked down a free throw at 1:47 after being fouled on a drive to the hoop. Tift’s early surge featured seven points from Jaziyah Johnson and eight from varsity newcomer Jazlin Martinez.

Lexie Connell made two more free throws for the Lady Panthers, but a Mariyah Batts triple from the top of the key had the visitors from the southeast up 24-3 at quarter’s end.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Lady Devil Jaziyah Johnson draws contact on a layup attempt.

Makayla Bryant began the second period with a pair of steals. Tiftarea began finding a bit of shooting touch, with Madi Shoultz scoring their first shot from the field, a three-pointer midway through the frame.

Graham did one better than her teammate later in the second, draining a three while being fouled. The free throw got them into double-digits at 11 points.

Johnson scored four points in the second, then added six more in the third. Kate Coogle had a Lady Panther bucket.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Madi Shoultz of Tiftarea drives between Tift defenders.

Tiftarea’s best quarter was the fourth as they were able to play with a bit more physicality. Maci Shoultz had a jumper and a three-pointer. The latter was Tiftarea’s final basket.

Johnson’s 22 led all scorers Tuesday. Martinez and Amiya Jordan were both in double figures with 15 and 12, respectively. Nadia Kennedy added 9 and Bryant scored 8.

Graham was Tiftarea’s leader with six points. Coogle and Maci Shoultz each scored five.

Tift head coach Julie Conner-Johnson credited assistant Getoya Cobb with the decision to bring up Martinez. With Jimmya Cushion still out for a few weeks, Cobb suggested that Martinez could help with outside shooting.

Martinez drilled two three-pointers in the first period, plus one more in the fourth. She also showed her mettle in the paint, fouled on a made basket with less than one second to go in the half.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
K.K. Mitchell and Kate Coogle battle for a rebound while McKenzie Brewton also put out her hand.