By By BRIAN HAINES, Brian@wdnweb.com, Sports Writer
The Washington boys basketball team can finally smile again. After losing five straight games the Pam Pack needed a win in the worst way against Coastal Conference rival White Oak and the team came through as it topped the Vikings 64-47 to end its slump and possible save its season.
The Pam Pack girls team was not as fortunate as it they fell 29-27 to the Vikings.
The Washington boys led from the start and held an advantage throughout the game as four players scored in double digits to lead a balanced attack.
Point guard Keane Graham hit nine of his 11 fourth-quarter free throw attempts to lead the Pam Pack with 13 points, while forward Joseph Conner scored 12, center Brandon Tripp tallied 11 and guard Ridge Hodges netted 10 for Washington (7-8. 4-7).
“(The win) gives us a chance. We are two or three games out of third place. I don’t know if we can get there, but we certainly won’t get there if we don’t win,” Pam Pack coach Steve Flowers said. “So this is big, it’s a big win.”
Conner got Washington off to a fast start as he was on fire in the first quarter where he scored eight of his 12 points.
“He’s been playing a lot better down the stretch,” Flowers said. “He’s had a double figure scoring average the last three or four games. He’s been doing a good job for us lately.”
A Conner fastbreak layup gave Washington a 30-17 lead going into halftime, but White Oak (1-19, 0-11) managed to cut the Pack’s lead to 46-36 heading into the fourth.
With the game within reach, White Oak began fouling midway through the fourth but Washington made a majority of its free throws down the stretch to keep the Vikings at bay.
“They just happen to foul the right guys,” Flowers said. “Keane hit about nine free throws. He’s our point guard, he’s gonna make those.”
Flowers said a big key to busting the losing streak was his team’s improved effort on defense.
“They were a little bit more aggressive on defense,” Flowers said. “That’s one thing we have been lacking. We have been kind of lazy on defense and tonight they picked it up a little bit.”
Vikings 29, Pam Pack 27
Washington shot poorly and had 27 turnovers Tuesday night, but despite the statistics the Pam Pack had a chance to tie White Oak with 10 seconds left in the game but never got a shot off. It was just that kind of night for Washington as it fell 29-27 to the Vikings.
As much as Washington (5-10, 3-7) struggled on offense, so did White Oak (3-16, 2-9) as neither team scored over 10 points in any quarter.
The Pam Pack was led by guard Beth Batchelor who tallied 14 points, while the Vikings were powered by Kiara Cruse’s game-high 15.
Washington, who was playing with a depleted roster after losing three players for the season for various reasons, got seven points from Datisha Redmond and five from Rachel Cantrell.
“I was pleased for the most part with our effort,” Washington coach Allison Jones said. “I just think there were times where we made poor choices. We finished the game with way too many turnovers and we are not being consistent enough at the free throw line, but I don’t doubt our heart and our effort.”
Washington will be back in action on Friday when it travels to D.H. Conley.
Boys game
White Oak 9 8 19 11 — 47
Washington 14 16 16 18 — 64
Vikings (47)
Thompson 6, Jones 9, White 7, Q. White 7, McNair 9, Speight 6, Wooten 3.
Pam Pack (64)
Ridge Hodges 10, Joseph Conner 12, Brandon Tripp 11, O’Neal 4, Windley 3, Moore 7, Keane Graham 13, Bell 4.
Girls game
White Oak 7 8 7 7 — 29
Washington 8 5 3 9 — 27
Vikings (29)
Breshanae Toliver 10, Pickett 4, Levester 4, Kiara Cruse 15, Smith 2, McLain 1.
Pam Pack (27)
Beth Batchelor 14, Cantrell 5, Redmond 7, Griffin 1.