By By BRIAN HAINES, Brian@wdnweb.com, Sports Writer
The Pam Pack fought hard enough to stay in the game, but in the end it could never seem to get over the hump as it fell 85-69 to Coastal Conference opponent West Craven on Friday.
Washington trailed early as Aaron Tate scored eight of his 16 points in the first quarter to put the Eagles ahead 17-13 going into the second.
Washington, led by Josh O’Neill’s 16 points, made small runs throughout the game but were never able to pull ahead.
The Pam Pack (2-5, 1-2) got hot late in the third quarter behind strong play from center Brandon Tripp and Keane Graham, who each scored 14 points.
Tripp tallied six in the third quarter alone, and when Graham dished a no-look pass to Rahkeem Slade for a fastbreak bucket Washington was able to cut the Eagles’ lead to 54-52 with less the three minutes to go in the quarter.
However, like it had done all game, West Craven responded and finished off the quarter on an 8-0 run to widen its lead to 62-52.
The Eagles (6-2, 2-0) were led by sharpshooter Demetrius Abrams, who poured in 21 points, while Josh Cutherson added 20 to go along with Tate’s 16.
“They were just a lot more athletic then us,” Washington coach Steve Flowers said. “They got on the boards pretty well. I was happy with everything we did, they’re just a better team.”
Washington’s starters had trouble keeping pace with the high-flying Eagles, but when some key players got in foul trouble West Craven was able to really take advantage.
“We got in a little bit of foul trouble and the problem is when I go to the bench we are really small,” Flowers said. “We just couldn’t match up with them.”
Washington will be back in action on Monday when it plays in the Wells Fargo Holiday Tournament at 7:30 p.m. against Southside at Southside High School.
West Craven 71,
Washington 62
West Craven’s Jamie Cherry stole the show on Friday as the electric freshman point guard shaked-and-baked her way to a game-high 42 points to lead the Eagles past Washington 71-62.
The Pam Pack tried all sorts of tactics to corral Cherry but the speedy guard was able to dribble past any defender or defenders put in front of her. When Cherry wasn’t driving for layups, she was nailing three-pointers or free throws to keep West Craven (5-1, 3-0) ahead of the Pam Pack.
Cherry, whom Eagles’ coaches David Fernandez and Jana Dennis said is being looked at by East Carolina, North Carolina and N.C. State, scored 12 points in both the first and second quarters to put her team up 39-28 at the half.
In the second half, Cherry tallied eight in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth quarter.
Cherry’s play in fourth quarter was key as the Pam Pack, led by Shaquoya May’s 23 points and Beth Batchelor’s 18, were able to cut the Eagles’ lead to 65-62 after a May put-back with 1:34 left in the game.
Cherry refused to lose as she answered with an old fashioned three-point play and then added two more free throws to create separation.
Washington was hampered at times as May did not start the game and Batchelor got in foul trouble.
Boys game
West Craven 17 22 23 23 — 85
Washington 13 21 18 17 — 69
Eagles (85)
Aaron Tate 16, Demetrius Abrams 22, Brown 7, Josh Cutherson 20, Adams 2, Cox 7, Bryant 5.
Washington (69)
Brandon Tripp 14, Hodges 8, Windley 2, Keane Graham 14, Josh O’Neill 16, Moore 8, Slade 4.
Girls game
West Craven 16 23 18 14 — 71
Washington 14 14 15 19 — 62
Eagles (71)
Jamie Cherry 42, Brown 8, Sewell 4, Khadijah Bryant 10, Williams 3, Thompson 2, Williams 2.
Pam Pack (62)
Beth Batchelor 18, Cantrell 5, Shaquoya May 23, Staneshia Griffin 11, Redmond 2.