By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
HAVELOCK — If Washington’s players thought the trip to Havelock was grueling, three losses likely made the return trip seem horrendous.
The Rams scored 53 second-half points en route to a 73-68 win over the Pam Pack in the boys Coastal Conference battle Friday night.
The Pack girls saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with a 56-36 setback. It all started with Havelock taking the junior varsity boys game.
A slam dunk by Johnny Godette, who powered home 17 points, knotted the game at 56-apiece with five minutes to play in the boys game. It also sparked an 8-0 run for Havelock that gave the Rams (9-6, 2-4) the lead for good.
Darrien Ince, who tied for team-high honors with 17 points, scored the final 6 points in the run.
Jeremy Duncan, who netted 14 points, added a killer 3-pointer in the final minutes.
Jarees Griffin, who paced the Pack with 20 points, hit several crucial shots to keep Washington close in the second half. However, he left in the final minute because of a leg injury.
Washington (8-3, 4-2) got 17 points apiece from Cor-J Cox and Daquan Daniels. Those two, along with Griffin, helped Washington take a 32-20 halftime lead. Griffin scored six of his points in a 12-2 run that helped give the Pack the 12-point advantage.
Havelock cut into its deficit in a hurry to start the second half. A three-point play by Mike Jolly and a pair of triples by Duncan highlighted an 11-2 spurt that pulled the Rams within 34-31.
Two dunks by Godette got Havelock within one, the last at 43-42. The Rams used a 6-0 run to take a 48-45 lead, but buckets by Cox and Jamaal Rouse gave the lead back to Washington, 51-48, heading into the fourth.
The Rams went up by as many as nine in the final quarter, which was too much for the Pack to overcome.
After a week of exams, the Pack will return to action Jan. 22 at West Carteret.
Pack girls fall
Washington saw its four-game winning streak get snapped in the 56-36 setback.
The Rams (12-4, 4-2) outscored the Pack (8-7, 3-3) 30-17 in the second half to pull away.
Havelock, which got 14 points from Melissa Thomas and 11 apiece from Alyssa Luebs and Shakira Wilson, jumped out to a 9-6 lead. Washington senior Sam Smith, who tallied 11 points, was forced to the bench with early foul trouble and the Rams were able to take advantage.
Havelock used a 10-0 run to take a 16-6 lead, then settled on a 26-19 advantage at the half.
Sophomore Hayley Stowe kept the Pack close by scoring 10 of her 14 points in the opening half.
Thomas got the basket early and often in the third, which helped Havelock push its lead to 39-26. She continued to get easy baskets in the fourth as the Rams went up by as many as 22 points.
JV Pack girls win
The Washington junior varsity girls team (4-1) posted a 47-44 win. Haley Hiatt led the Pack with 12 points. Ebony Lawrence added 11 and Shonnita McIver chipped in 8.
The Lady Pack will return to home action Jan. 22 against West Carteret at 4:30 p.m.
Washington 14 18 19 17 — 68
Havelock 9 11 28 25 — 73
WASHINGTON (68)
Jarees Griffin 20, Daquan Daniels 17, Cor-J Cox 17, L. Godley 6, Rouse 4, J. Moore 2, Spencer 2, Mallison, M. Moore.
HAVELOCK (73)
Johnny Godette 17, Darrien Ince 17, Jeremy Duncan 14, Chip Smith 10, Jolly 9, Rookwood 4, McCamish 2, Bell, Buntyn.
Girls
Washington 6 13 7 10 — 36
Havelock 9 17 13 17 — 56
WASHINGTON (36)
Hayley Stowe 14, Sam Smith 11, Simpkins 5, Grice 3, Batchelor 2, Cox 1, Burbage, Palmer, Tackett, Weatherington, Alligood.
HAVELOCK (56)
Melissa Thomas 14, Alyssa Webb 11, Shakira Wilson 11, Godeth 8, M. McCaffity 5, Hill 4, Carter 2, Foster 1, K. McCaffity, Nelson, McMillan.