By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
WINTERVILLE — Washington coach Allison Jones believes that playing the likes of South Central will only help her team for the state playoffs, which tip off next week.
The Pam Pack (10-14) faced the Falcons (22-4), the second-ranked team in the Class 3-A NCPreps.com/High School Media poll, for the third time this season in Wednesday’s second round of the Coastal Conference Tournament. And for the third time, the Falcons exploded out of the gates en route to a 72-38 victory.
The Falcons picked up wins of 77-35 and 79-29 during the regular season.
“I think playing teams like this does help,” Jones said. “We’ve seen a lot of different styles of play. Playing teams like this can only help.”
South Central jumped out to a 20-0 lead, led 26-2 after the first quarter and led 37-3 early in the second quarter.
“It’s kind of like drinking out of a fire hose when you first step on the court,” Jones said. “We made some poor decisions, but South Central puts you in that position. They are a good team.”
After that early ambush, Washington did play evenly (35-35) with the Falcons.
“I felt that we played with a little more purpose and intensity in the second half,” Jones said.
Hayley Stowe did all she could to keep Washington fighting. The senior tied for game-high honors with 18 points.
Beth Batchelor chipped in with six points, while Rakira Ward had five. Haley Hiatt, Staneshia Griffin and Shonnita McIver all had three.
Danielle Butts slashed her way to 18 points. Janesha Ebron matched her South Central teammate with 18 points. Shavonte Mills netted 13 points and Amber Clark had 12.
Washington will likely play at West Brunswick, the top seed out of the Waccamaw Conference, in the first round of the state playoffs on Monday. It’s the third straight year Washington has qualified for the playoffs.
The Pam Pack will be making its second trip in three years to West Brunswick. Two years ago, Washington lost in double overtime.
“We’re glad to earn a spot,” Jones said. “We’re proud of that. That’s the place you want to be as a program. You want to get to a point where you’re qualifying for the state playoffs every year.
“I think we’re going in the right direction. We still have big, long strides to make. I think this is going to be a good experience for the girls.”
Washington 2 8 8 20 – 38
South Central 26 15 18 13 – 72
WASHINGTON (38)
Hayley Stowe 18, Batchelor 6, Ward 5, Hiatt 3, Griffin 3, McIver 3
SOUTH CENTRAL (72)
Danielle Butts 18, Janesha Ebron 18, Shavonte Mills 13, Amber Clark 12, McCorkle 6, Wyatt 2, Newton-Love 2, Whitfield 1