Marquavius Johnson (13) is consoled by Tift County head coach Chris Wade after Johnson fouled out near the end of the third quarter Saturday.

BUFORD – Cinderella’s ball ended without the prince Saturday. Tift County’s Blue Devils met their match in the semifinals, falling to a red-hot Meadowcreek, 73-36.

The decision was doomed from the start. Meadowcreek had an 11-0 lead in the first two minutes of action and by the time the Blue Devils scored their 10th point, the Mustangs – last year’s defending Class AAAAAAA state champions – had 37.

Almost everything Meadowcreek shot in the first quarter found the inside of the net. The Mustangs hit six three-pointers in the first quarter alone, four by Jalen Benjamin.

Tift’s unlucky night began with a three-pointer by Jamir Chaplin, followed by a three from Benjamin, a jumper by Jammonie Watkins-Causey and another three by Benjamin. They finally got on the scoreboard at 5:34 when Jatarion Warren assisted Tyree Marshall on a three-pointer.

Rather than break the ice, it seemed to fuel the Mustangs even more. Chaplin and Benjamin had more shots behinid the arc during a 9-0 run before Warren converted an offensive rebound. Meadowcreek led 24-5 after a quarter.

The Devils had their biggest offensive highlight at the start of the second frame when Warren returned a high offensive rebound for a slam dunk. However, Marquavius Johnson soon picked up his third personal foul. Johnson, who entered as Tift’s leading scorer, had few opportunities to shoot by a strong defense that was even better inside the paint.

McKenzie Jackson made a free throw for Tift’s 10th point. They matched Meadowcreek point-for-point during the last three minutes, but trailed by 28 at intermission. Meadowcreek had four points in the final seven seconds, the last being free throws 2.3 seconds by Wilford Campbell after he swiped an inbounds pass.

The second half was more even between the teams. Johnson, ultimately limited to three points in his final high school game, scored his only shot from the floor to open the third quarter. He and Ron Jackson each picked up their fourth fouls during the stanza and Johnson fouled out near its end.

Trailing 60-27 entering the fourth, both teams put in fresh faces as time ticked away. McKenzie Jackson made the last points of the season, a runner with two seconds to go.

Marshall had the best showing for the Devils on the floor. He had eight points in the first half and 10 in the second. Marshall made a three-pointer in each of the first three quarters.

Marshall had exactly half of Tift’s total at 18 points. Warren scored six points, Jameson Turner scored four, Johnson and McKenzie Jackson each had three and Ron Jackson had two. Tift finished its season with 21 wins.

Chaplin scored 20 for Meadowcreek, Benjamin added 19 and Damian Dunn scored 11.

Meadowcreek will face undefeated McEachern in the state finals next weekend.