TIFTON – When the Colquitt County boys basketball team took a 43-40 fourth-quarter lead over Tift County on Friday, it looked as if the Packers long lack of success in Tifton might come to an end.
But it was not to be.
The Blue Devils scored the final seven points of the game and took 47-43 Region 1-6A victory in front of their home fans.
The win gave Tift a sweep after the Lady Devils defeated Lady Packers in Friday’s first game 47-36.
The Colquitt County boys were shooting for their first victory over Tift County in Tifton since Jan. 12, 2001.
But turnovers down the stretch scuttled their chance to break the long drought.
The loss also was the first in the region for the Packers, who had won their first four region games for the first time since the 1982-1983 season.
A victory over the Blue Devils would have equaled the Packers best region start ever.
Tift County’s J.J. Lamar led all scorers with 27 points, including eight in the final eight minutes.
Colquitt got 18 from Cason Harden and 12 from JaKari Byrd.
Marcus Moore added nine and Kanilyn Jones had four.
The Packers are now 12-3 overall and 4-1 in the region.
Their other two losses were to Dougherty and Monroe in the U-Save-It Classic on Dec. 20-21 in Albany.
The Blue Devils evened their region record at 2-2 and are now 12-5 overall.
The Packers have a quick opportunity to get back in the region win column when they play host to Richmond Hill in a game scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Colquitt defeated the Richmond Hill boys 55-44 on January 4 on the road.
In Friday’s first game, Tift outscored the Lady Packers 17-6 in the second quarter to take a 26-16 halftime lead and held on for the win.
Colquitt’s girls fall to 13-4 overall and 2-3 in the region.
The Lady Packers were led by Amareyia Knighton, who had 20 points.
Nacardia Robinson had nine and Amira Walters-Smith was held to seven.
Jalaya Miller had 15 and McKenzie Holliday 13 for the Lady Devils.
The win was the first in the region for the Tift County girls, who had dropped their first three.
The Lady Devils are 7-9 overall.
The Lady Packers will play host to Richmond Hill at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Colquitt girls won the first meeting between the two region foes 50-37 on January 4.
The Colquitt County basketball program’s seniors will be honored between games on Saturday.
Tift County will travel to Valdosta on Saturday.