By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Cor-J Cox walked briskly onto the court and said “enough is enough.”
After New Bern made a 12-0 run at the end of the third quarter to take a 43-41 lead, Cox decided it was time to step up. The senior buried a 3-pointer seconds into the fourth quarter, followed that up with a circus shot in the paint and finished his personal 7-0 run with a basket off a rebound to give Washington a 48-43 lead.
The Pack (8-2, 4-1) wouldn’t trail again, taking a 63-58 win over the Bears in Tuesday’s Coastal Conference clash. It also stopped a two-game skid.
Meanwhile, the Pam Pack girls (8-6, 3-2) ran their winning streak to four straight with a 58-53 victory.
Cox, who finished with 15 points, had some help in the fourth quarter. Jarees Griffin, who also tallied 15 points, scored 10 points in the fourth to help keep the Pam Pack ahead.
Cox had a ferocious dunk in the first quarter inside a sweltering WHS gymnasium to give the Pack an early 13-5 lead. Washington pushed its lead to 27-14 midway through the second, but the Bears used an 8-0 run to close the half, pulling within 27-22.
A 3-pointer by Derrick Mallison and another jam by Cox extended the Pack lead back to double digits at 32-22. A layup by Dakuan Spencer kept Washington’s lead at 10, 41-31.
A three-point play by Kendrick Henderson and a 3-pointer by Nate Healy (22 points) capped a 12-0 New Bern run that gave the Bears a 43-41 lead.
Cox scored seven straight to begin the fourth, while Griffin got inside for easy baskets to help push Washington’s lead back to 10 at 59-49.
New Bern tried to make a late rally, but a huge block by Cox helped stuff the Bears’ rally.
Daquan Daniels, who led Washington with 16 points, helped ice the game with some late free throws. The Pack, which shot a dismal 6 of 30 from the charity stripe in its previous game, connected on 12 of 20 Tuesday night.
Four straight
Sharita Grice played her best game of the season, which helped the Pack turn back the Bears, 58-53.
Grice led the Pack with 15 points, including two free throws that put Washington up for good late in the fourth quarter.
Hayley Stowe (13 points), Harmony Simpkins (12 points) and Sam Smith (12 points) also hit for double digits in the balanced attack, while Davey Ann Burbage added 6.
The win was Washington’s first at home this season.
Washington had to play catch-up most of the first half. A 3-pointer by Simpkins and then a layup off a steal capped the scoring in the third quarter, giving Washington a 41-40 lead and some much-needed momentum.
After the Bears tied it, Burbage nailed a short jumper for a 43-41 lead.
New Bern rallied this time. Tracie Collins, who led all scorers with 19 points, converted a three-point play at the other end to give the Bears a 53-48 lead.
However, the Pack came up big at the free throw line. Burbage hit two to pull Washington within 53-52, while Grice followed by hitting both of her shots for a 54-53 advantage.
Stowe sealed the deal by hitting all four of her free throws in the final 15 seconds.
The Pack returns to action Friday at Havelock. Washington will be on the road the rest of this month.
New Bern 11 11 21 15 — 58
Washington 12 8 12 19 — 63
NEW BERN (58)
Nate Healy 22, Ty Pack 12, Trevor Durrell 10, Kendrick Henderson 10, Kirjavanien 2, Mason 2, Sawyer, Howell, Stortz, Lamb.
WASHINGTON (63)
Daquan Daniels 16, Cor-J Cox 15, Jarees Griffin 15, Spencer 8, L. Godley 4, Mallison 3, Rouse 2, J. Moore.
Girls
New Bern 15 10 15 13 — 53
Washington 11 10 20 17 — 58
NEW BERN (53)
Tracie Collins 19, Kimaya Fulcher 15, Franklin 8, Warren 3, Briele 3, Lewis 3, Williams 2, Sard, Adams, McCullough.
WASHINGTON (58)
Sharita Grice 15, Hayley Stowe 13, Sam Smith 12, Harmony Simpkins 12, Burbage 6, Palmer.