Another late basket gives
Tift a victory over Packers
Published 9:02 pm Saturday, February 15, 2025
- Tift County's Jaden Nelson (13) guards Zhi Alridge of the Packers. (Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette)
VALDOSTA – For the second time this season, Tift County has defeated Colquitt County on a buzzer-beating basket.
On Saturday, in the Region 1-6A consolation game, the 42-40 loss will send the Packers to Marietta to face Region 5 champion Wheeler next Wednesday in the first round of the state tournament.
The Wildcats are 23-3.
The Blue Devils will be the region’s No. 3 team and will travel to play Region 5 runner-up Walton.
It appeared the Packers had finally knocked off the Blue Devils in their third try this season when a 3-pointer by Cason Harden provided a 40-39 lead with 18 seconds left.
But JJ Lamar’s basket left the Packers stunned once again.
Back on January 28, Tift’s Quay Bell hit a 3-pointer from the corner after taking an inbounds pass with 2.9 seconds left to give the Blue Devils a 48-46 win.
The Packers opened the region tournament with a 46-33 victory over Richmond Hill on Tuesday at home in the play-in game.
That ensured the Packers a state tournament berth, but a victory over top-seeded Valdosta on Thursday would mean a first-round home state tournament game.
Colquitt had defeated Valdosta 45-43 earlier in the season, giving the Packer faithful some hope.
But it was not to be.
Valdosta won 57-44 leaving Colquitt hoping for at least a shot at Walton instead of daunting Wheeler.
But Tift, trailing 23-17 at the half, completed its sweep of all three games against the Packers this season. Lamar who had the winning basket, was held scoreless in the first half.
Colquitt will take a 15-8 record to Marietta to face the Wildcats.
Zhi Alridge led the Packers with 14 points.
Harden had nine; Marcus Moore added eight; Kanilyn Jones had five; and JaKari Byrd scored four.
Kaden Lawson led the Blue Devils with 17 points. Lamar had 13 and Cordell Nelson scored 10.
Lowndes won the region tournament championship with a 58-55 victory over Valdosta in Saturday’s second game.
The 15-8 Colquitt County girls finished as the region runners-up and will be at home on Tuesday to face 20-8 Etowah in the first round of the girls state tournament.
