By By GREG KATSKI
Community Editor
Third time was a charm for the Washington Police Department in the annual Guns vs. Hoses charity basketball game.
The Guns won the hard-fought, back-and-forth game, 46-40. The Guns also won the event’s fundraising drive, collecting $582 for the Eagle’s Wings food pantry. The Hoses team, fielded by the Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS-Inspections Department, raised $508.
“We’re one for three,” said Washington Police Chief and Guns head coach Mick Reed after the contest, which was held at Washington High School on Saturday night.
The Guns lost their first two games against the Hoses, including a 57-48 drubbing last year.
“We played a good game — just came up a little short,” Otis Harrell, Hoses’ team captain and a firefighter/EMT, said after the game. “It’s a good reason to come out, anyways.”
Eagle’s Wings Executive Director Debbie Adams said she was satisfied with the turnout for the event, which she called a “community-builder.”
“It was an awesome game. They put on a good show,” she said. “I’m glad the community was here to enjoy it.”
The game got off to a slow start, with the Guns leading 22-15 at the half.
Patrolman Corey Rogerson led all scorers at the halfway mark with nine points. Harrell and fellow firefighter/EMT Brian Lilley led the first half charge for the Hoses with six points each.
The Hoses didn’t really heat up until they cut the lead to three at 36-33 with 5:29 to go in the game. Fitness Unlimited owner and Hoses’ secret weapon Austin Thomas hit a three-pointer from the top-right of the key to give the Hoses the lead at 37-36. Guns captain Isaac Barrett got the lead right back for the Guns by stealing the ball from Thomas and a making a layup. Thomas knotted the score at 38-38 by making the front end of a one-and-one visit to the free-throw line, but the Guns got a key three-pointer to go up 41-38.
After a Hoses’ timeout with 1:26 left in the game, the Guns ran the four-corner offense made famous by former UNC coach Dean Smith and the Tar Heels to run some time off the clock. The Hoses committed a foul on Rogerson, who hit two free throws to put the Guns up 43-38 with 27 seconds left in regulation.
Thomas was fouled by a Guns’ player with 25 seconds left and made two free throws to bring the Hoses within three points at 43-40. After the Hoses got a rebound on a Guns’ miss, Thomas was fouled again with 18 seconds left, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Guns got the rebound, and Rogerson was fouled. He went to the line with a chance to seal the game but missed two free throws. Harrell grabbed the rebound from the second miss, but Rogerson stole the ball and made an easy layup to give the Guns the game at 46-40.
Rogerson had 22 points to lead all scorers, while Lilley had 15 and Harrell had 12.
“It was fun — a good show,” Reed said after his team’s win. “Maybe everyone can come back next year.”
Harrell was quick to complement the Guns on their resounding win.
“Props to the police department. They had a good strategy for us,” he said, before giving the Guns something to think about.
“We’ll have them next year,” he said.
The spirit of giving was shared throughout the event, with Frank’s Pizza donating its time and slices of pizza to Eagle’s Wings to sell during the game to raise money to stock its pantry. Paula Pacella, winner of the event’s 50-50 raffle, donated her winnings to Eagle’s Wings.