For those unfamiliar with Washington High School athletics, the basketball team has grinded through its fair share of struggles in recent years. The Pam Pack hasn’t posted a winning record since the 2007-2008 season, when head coach Joe Lawrence navigated his team to a fifth-place finish in the competitive 3-A Coastal Conference.

Since then, the Washington gymnasium, named after one of the greatest high school coaches in North Carolina history, Dave Smith, has seen its fair share of scantily attended games. And while not directly applicable to the team’s underperformance, the decrease in fan support has hardly helped.

The days of Dominique Wilkins and the 1970s championship basketball teams have long passed. Never again will this town see a team like that — a truth that may come as a disappointment to many. But even in the face of extraordinary adversity, the Washington basketball team is putting in the effort and not holding back.

Tuesday night, the Pam Pack was outmatched by a Southwest Edgecombe team with more shooters and a taller backcourt. The game began like so many do — the Pam Pack keeps pace early on, only to lose ground in the third quarter. The Cougars held a 16-point lead heading into the final eight minutes and the gym all but cleared out. Only a handful of Washington fans were scattered throughout the gym and just seven students were left in the student section.

Granted, the game was the truest definition of a nightcap, stretching to almost 11 p.m., but it’s important to remember those still battling it out on the court also had to wake up for class on Wednesday morning.

What happened next surprised many. With about five minutes left in the game, the Pam Pack began chipping away — a forced turnover here, a made three-pointer there. Suddenly, with under two minutes left, it was a single-digit game for the first time since the second quarter. Then, a couple made free throws pulled Washington to within four with 21 seconds remaining. Seventeen seconds later, it was a two-point game.

After a Cougar guard went 1-for-2 at the line, a half court heave came inches away from tying the game and sending it into overtime. It was a valiant effort by a team that refused to give up and, well, there was only a few there to see it.

Despite having just one practice as a full team (due to the football team’s deep playoff run, follow by the holiday break), the Pam Pack came together as one and gave it all they had. As fans, let’s give it all we have and stay to the end of the game because you never know what you might see.