By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
VANCEBORO — Number 1,000 will just have to wait.
The Washington Pam Pack had a chance to win its 1,000th game in boys basketball history, but the West Craven Eagles made sure the Pack wouldn’t do it against them.
West Craven avenged a 58-56 loss to Washington earlier this season with a 73-55 victory Friday night. The Eagles (13-5, 6-4) were able to score several easy buckets in the transition game to blow past the Pam Pack (4-13, 3-7) in this Coastal Conference showdown.
According to historian Clarence Hollowell, the Pack entered the game with a record of 999-732. Washington will look to reach the milestone Tuesday at J.H. Rose.
Washington looked like it might be able to hit 1,000 early on, as a 3-pointer by Brendan Rodgers tied the game at 14-apiece.
But a runner in the lane by Erik Highsmith started a quarter-ending 9-0 run, giving the Eagles a 23-14 advantage. The Pack was never able to respond.
West Craven extended the lead to 16 with a 10-2 spurt, going up 44-28 on a short jumper by Leon Duff.
Washington was able to trim its deficit to 12 at the half thanks to seven straight points, including a buzzer-beating layup by Jamar Moore.
The Pack tried to make some adjustments at halftime, looking to feed the ball inside to big man Paris Wiggins, who finished with nine points. Wiggins got two early baskets in the third quarter, but Washington was held to six points in the frame.
Duff, who finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, had nine points in the quarter to keep his Eagles well ahead. His layup gave the Eagles a commanding 57-36 lead late in the period, capping an 11-0 run.
The lead went to as many as 22, including 73-51, in the fourth.
Wiggins, Moore, Rodgers and Daquan Daniels all scored nine for the Pack. Moore was injured going for a loose ball late in the game and his status for Tuesday is questionable.
With four games left before conference tournament play, Lawrence is looking for his players to improve in certain aspects of the game.
Washington girls suffer setback
Keisha Hardy must love to play the Pam Pack. Hardy erupted for 23 points to lead West Craven (6-12, 6-4) to a 64-33 victory. In the first meeting with Washington (3-15, 1-9), Hardy had 26 points in a victory.
Washington held a 6-5 late early in the game on a Hayley Stowe layup off a nifty assist from Davey Ann Burbage, but it was all West Craven after that. The Eagles closed the first quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 16-8 lead.
West Craven started the second with a 9-0 blitz to go up 25-8. The lead ballooned to 39-15 at the half and the rout was on from there.
Samantha Smith paced the Pack with 11 points.
West Craven held off a late Washington charge to take a 46-44 win in the junior varsity boys game.
Washington 14 18 6 17 – 55
West Craven 23 21 13 16 – 73
Washington (55)
Daniels 9, Rodgers 9, J. Moore 9, Wiggins 9, Cox 8, C. Moore 5, Mallison 3, Jefferson 2, Modlin 1.
West Craven (73)
Leon Duff 20, Erik Highsmith 16, Michael Best 13, Gross 8, Turnage 4, Lewis 4, Edwards 3, Cray 2, Crowell 2.
Girls
Washington 8 7 13 5 – 33
West Craven 16 23 16 9 – 64
Washington (33)
Samantha Smith 11, Burbage 6, Hardy 5, Stowe 4, Boston 4, Cox 3.
West Craven (64)
Keisha Hardy 23, Chiquita Jackson 11, Morgan 9, Brown 5, Bryan 4, Adams 4, T. Jones 4, L. Jones 2, Nobles 2.