TIFTON, Ga. — The Tift County Lady Devils returned to their winning ways Saturday night, 46-40, and stopping a Coffee comeback before it could get rolling.

Tift made five-of-seven free throws in the final two minutes, including three in a one-second span that turned a four-point game into a more comfortable lead.

The Blue Devil boys were never seriously challenged by Coffee in the nightcap, 77-54, giving their guests two lumps for the evening.

The Lady Devils had a 13-point lead just after halftime and were up 10, 34-24, when Audrey McElhaney connected on a pair of free shots to start the fourth quarter.

Coffee slowly fought back into the game.

Using the height of forward Aerionna Tucker, who poured in 10 fourth frame points, the lead was down to four points (38-34) with 3:30 remaining.

Emma Choate scored for the hosts, but Sakendra Paulk answered with a field goal. Dayana Chaney and Tucker also exchanged points and it was 42-38 at 1:43.

The Lady Trojans caught a break when McElhaney missed on the front end of a one-and-one at 1:22, but couldn’t score. Destiny Johnson then went to the free throw line and made the second, but before Coffee could take possession, Yasha Merritt was called for a foul – her fifth.

Kaysie Harrelson sank two free throws to swell the lead to 45-38. McElhaney iced the game with 18 seconds left with one more free throw.

Although non-region, the win was a much-needed one for the Lady Devils, who had dropped two straight Region 1-AAAAAAA games.

Tift had difficulties making a shot from the field in the first quarter, but only trailed for a single minute.

The Lady Devils made their first nine free shots Saturday, six coming in the opening period. Those shots, combined with a Shay Pitts put-back, gave the hosts an 8-5 lead going into the second.

Coffee tied and briefly led again on a Merritt shot in the second quarter before Tift responded with a 19-4 run that lasted through intermission and into the third frame.

A halfcourt defensive set gave the visitors all sorts of problems, including a backcourt violation, a traveling call and several out-of-bounds passes. Chaney scored six straight points, Johnson four straight and by the time Joslyn Reyes popped a three-pointer, the score was 25-11.

Chaney later quelled a third quarter Coffee run with a three-point shot and an assist. She would lead the squad with 13 points. McElhaney added 11.

Tucker’s 12 ponts and 11 from Zemiria Bussey paced Coffee.

DEVILS 75 COFFEE 52

The Blue Devils were ahead 9-0 before a dunk by Mackenzie McFatten scored Coffee’s first points. Tift remained too strong for the Trojans the rest of the night.

With 2:30 to go in the quarter, the Devils had already built a 14-point lead, the last three of that off a shot by Marquavious Johnson.

The Trojans briefly threatened to make a game of it.

Jayce Moore cut the lead to 21-13 in the second, but were soon the victim of a Tift run that ended any doubts.

Micah Johnson hit a 3. A quick turnover led to a Preston Horne layup and was shortly followed by three-pointers from Montae Terrell and Horne.

A second Terrell trey sent Tift into the locker room up 38-22.

The Devils pulled away further in the third, Horne pushing the lead to 23 points, 56-33, when he scored on a Micah Johnson lob and a free throw.

A Terrell fourth quarter free shot gave Tift its largest advantage at 25 points. Coffee warmed up in the final frame, but never enough to threaten.

Moore and Dalrone Donaldson scored in double figures for the visitors with 18 and 11 points, respectively.

Horne had 21 points for Tift and Fred Lloyd scored 16. Terrell finished with a career best 18 points.

Tift’s teams have two regular season games remaining. They will host Bainbridge Friday at 7 p.m. and Camden County for Senior Night Saturday at 6 p.m.