By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Washington used a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter, capped by a ferocious slam dunk by Cor-J Cox, to pull away from Williamston in Tuesday’s home opener for the Pam Pack.
Nine different players scored for the Pack in a 61-45 victory, improving to 3-0 in the process.
Daquan Daniels led a balanced attack with 11 points, while Jamar Moore and Cox added 10 apiece.
Rodney Cogdell and Lee Godley were strong inside, scoring 7 and 6 points, respectively.
Jamaal Rouse scored all 7 of his points early in the fourth to help spark the Pack.
Kareem Bell kept the Tigers (0-5) close for a while with a game-high 16 points. Eric Smith added 12.
Gilmore is starting four players who never played varsity before this season.
We’re just going to keep scrapping,” Gilmore said. “That’s all we can do. I lost everything I had last year so this is more like a rebuilding year, but we’re going to keep trying.”
The Pack raced out to a 13-4 lead on the young Tigers, going up by nine on a layup by Daniels. However, the Tigers used a 10-2 run to get back in the game.
Washington pushed its lead to 26-15 early in the second with an 8-1 spurt as Williamston went nearly five minutes without a field goal. The Tigers didn’t fold, getting within 28-25 on a 3-pointer by Brian Williams.
Williamston was within five at 42-37 on a triple by Bell early in the fourth, but Moore answered with one of his own at the other end. Rouse also hit a triple and Cox’s two-handed flush capped the 10-0 blitz to give Washington its biggest lead at that point, 52-37.
The Pack will look to keep its early season momentum going when it plays host to Ayden-Grifton tonight.
Williamston girls win
Katie Paschal had 34 points and 12 steals to lead the Tigers (5-0) to a 69-56 win over the Pam Pack (3-2).
Paschal, who had 28 points after three quarters, started the fourth on the bench with her team up 25 points, 57-32.
Hayley Stowe, who scored all 11 of her points in the fourth, led a spirited comeback that saw the Pack get as close as eight, 64-56, with 50 seconds to play.
Paschal re-entered late in the game and hit some key free throws to stave off the Pack’s rally.
Davey Ann Burbage nailed a short jumper to give Washington a 7-6 lead in the first quarter. The Tigers closed out the quarter with a 10-0 run and never looked back.
Equalia Vines had 11 points, Natara Peele 10 points and Presley Roberson 6 points and 10 boards for the Tigers.
Harmony Simpkins had 10 points for the Pack, while Sam Smith and Courtney Cox added 9 apiece. Smith and Burbage (5 points) each pulled down 10 boards.
Williamston 14 11 9 11 — 45
Washington 18 10 12 21 — 61
WILLIAMSTON (45)
Kareem Bell 16, Eric Smith 12, Everett 9, Williams 4, Moody 2, J. Coffield 1, K. Coffield 1, Peel, Harrell, Carranza, Castro, Auten.
WASHINGTON (61)
Daquan Daniels 11, Jamar Moore 10, Cor-J Cox 10, Cogdell 7, Rouse 7, Godley 6, Spencer 4, Mallison 3, Griffin 3.
Girls
Williamston 16 19 22 12 — 69
Washington 7 11 14 24 — 56
WILLIAMSTON (69)
Katie Paschal 34, Equalia Vines 11, Natara Peele 10, Roberson 6, Everette 3, Clemmons 2, Wallace 1, M. Jones 1, Harrell 1, Knights, C. Jones, Patrick, Auton.
WASHINGTON (56)
Hayley Stowe 11, Harmony Simpkins 10, Smith 9, Cox 9, Grice 6, Burbage 5, Batchelor 4, Palmer 2, Tackett, Litzey.