TIFTON — Tift County dropped 46-44 basketball contest to Ware County Thursday as the eighth annual McDonald’s Invitational started with two thrillers.

Tift was down three points, 46-43, when Nicky Jones was fouled with 14 seconds remaining. Jones made the first of two shots and fortunately for the Lady Devils, Destiny Johnson came up with enough of the basketball to force a jump ball. Possession remained with Tift.

With seven seconds left, Denise Duggins went to the free throw line with a chance to tie. Tift’s luck ran out there, as they could get no closer than 46-44.

Ware rebounded with five seconds left. Tift’s best chance of regaining possession was to foul and send the Lady Gators to the free throw line, but they only had three fouls, four short of the barrier for a one-and-one. Ware ran out the clock to hang on to the victory.

“Ware’s a great team,” said Tift head coach Julie Conner.

Conner’s crew played evenly with Ware for the first half, but during the fourth quarter faced a seven-point deficit.

Joslyn Reyes produced the opening basket of the game, a three-pointer off an assist from Duggins. A steal by Mataea Boyd tied it at 3, then Shondell Vickers got the first of her many baskets of the afternoon.

Vickers had 11 of Ware’s 19 first half points. Seven came in the second frame as the Lady Gators jumped out to a 19-13 lead with 39 seconds left.

Tift halved the advantage to three points on a three-pointer by Keisha Jackson with 20 seconds to go.

Ware was whistled for an offensive foul with six seconds left, giving the hosts one last chance for points. San Graddic, who had entered the game after Duggins picked up her third foul, took advantage; her desperation shot at the horn went in and the game was 19-all at the break.

At 5:20 in the third period, Kaysie Harrelson gave the Lady Devils their first lead (at 26-23) since early in the second when she made a shot from behind the arc. They boosted their lead to six points when Johnson converted an offensive rebound, but Ware began a comeback of their own.

Vickers’ three-pointer at 1:03 put the Lady Gators ahead 31-30 and Arviniece McDonald made a shot off a steal for a 33-30 game headed into the final quarter.

Jamia Level assisted Harrelson to open the fourth, then Ware responded with a 9-3 run for their largest lead at 42-35 and with 3:17 to go in the game.

Tift refused to go quietly.

Johnson started a scoring spree by driving to the hoop and making a free throw when she was fouled. Jones scored, then Duggins tied the contest when she drove to the basket at 1:26. Duggins could not convert a free throw, but Johnson was there with a rebound. She passed to Duggins who got a second chance at grabbing the lead. Duggins hit one free throw for a 43-42 score.

Vickers scored under the goal with one minute remaining to put Ware back ahead, 44-43. Forty seconds later, Justyce Eason came up with a steal and scored for a three-point Ware lead.

Conner was impressed with Vickers, who had exactly half of Ware’s points — 23.

“She’s a great player,” said Conner.

Jones’ 10 led Tift. Duggins and Harrelson each scored seven.

Tift will play Maynard Jackson this afternoon at 1 p.m. Jackson and Warner Robins opened the McDonald’s Invitational Thursday, the latter pulling out a 64-56 victory.

The Lady Devils end the 2017 portion of their schedule Saturday in Ashburn, where they play Americus-Sumter High at the Ronalda Pierce Classic. Americus-Sumter was scheduled to play Coffee Thursday and Clinch County today, both games in Ashburn.

Tift was originally to have played Crisp County at Ashburn, but Conner said the schedule was changed.