By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
It’s like a bad movie that the Washington Pam Pack can’t escape.
Costly missed free throws and a fourth-quarter run by the West Carteret Patriots led to a 59-56 Coastal Conference loss for the Pam Pack on Monday night.
Taraja Langley, who led all scorers with 18 points, had a chance to give Washington the lead with 14 seconds to play. However, Langley missed two free throws and Zach Sowell (13 points) converted both of his at the other end to give the Patriots (8-7, 2-5) a 59-56 lead.
Washington (6-10, 1-6) had a chance to tie, but Lindsey Harris (12 points) was short from the top of the circle.
The Patriots used a 20-12 fourth quarter to pull out the win.
The Pack, which also got 11 points from Chris Albritton and eight from Joseph Conner, used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to grab a 9-4 lead. The Patriots answered with a 10-0 spurt, helping them take a 14-11 lead after the first quarter.
A 7-0 run by Washington in the second gave the Pack a 22-16 advantage, before settling a 25-21 halftime lead.
Harris knocked down a pair of triples early in the third as Washington built a 39-31 advantage. Damon Hoggard, who netted 10 for West Carteret, hit a three of his own to pull the Patriots within 41-39. A three-point play by Albritton to end the quarter handed Washington a 44-39 edge.
Conner got inside for a couple easy baskets in the fourth, helping Washington take a 52-49 lead.
That’s when Chase Cannon, who hadn’t scored all game long, heated up. Cannon scored eight straight for the Patriots, his last points coming on a trey that gave the Patriots a 57-54 lead with 53 seconds to play.
A jumper from the wing by Harris made it a one-point game, but the Pack couldn’t get any closer.
GIRLS FALL
Hayley Stowe, who led Washington with 13 points, buried a jumper early in the fourth to help pull the Pam Pack within four points at 30-26. However, the senior injured an ankle on the play and had to be helped off the court.
The Pack could never find its rhythm after that, eventually falling 42-32 to the Patriots.
Stowe will have some time to heal as Washington is off the rest of the week because of exams. She did leave the gymnasium on crutches.
Beth Batchelor added 11 for Washington (5-10, 4-3).
Vanity Jones paced the Patriots (10-5, 5-2) with 15 points. Stacy Wainwright added 10.
GIRLS
West Carteret 13 3 14 12 — 42
Washington 7 4 13 8 — 32
West Carteret (42)
Vanity Jones 15, Stacy Wainwright 10, Mansfield 6, Sowell 5, Barnes 4, Pearce 2.
Washington (32)
Hayley Stowe 13, Beth Batchelor 11, Ward 4, Williams 2, Cantrell 2.
BOYS
West Carteret 14 7 18 20 — 59
Washington 11 14 19 12 — 56
West Carteret (59)
Zach Sowell 13, Damon Hoggard 10, Papillion 9, Godette 9, Cannon 8, Collins 8, McCall 2.
Washington (56)
Taraja Langley 18, Lindsey Harris 12, Chris Albritton 11, Conner 8, Tripp 3, O’Neal 2, Chance 2.