By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
The South Central boys team entered Friday night’s game at Washington High School ranked as the No. 2 team in the NCPreps.com Class 3-A poll. The Falcon girls team was ranked sixth. Both teams showed why.
The Falcons (14-0, 6-0) used a 23-13 fourth quarter to pull away from the Pam Pack (6-9, 1-5) in the boys game, posting an 80-59 Coastal Conference victory.
South Central’s girls (12-3, 6-0) raced out to a 21-8 lead after one quarter and never looked back, running away from Washington (5-9, 4-2) with a 77-35 win.
The South Central junior varsity boys captured a 56-37 win.
BOYS
Four players scored in double figures for Chris Cherry’s Falcons. Donta Harper led the way with 17 points. James Carlton and Cameron Garrison added 16 apiece and Anthony Hilliard had 14.
Taraja Langley paced the Pack with 17 points. Chris Albritton finished with 16.
The Falcons jumped out to a 12-6 lead, but six straight points by Albritton tied the game at 12-12. South Central was able to take a 15-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
Harper got inside for a couple easy baskets and Carlton threw down a vicious slam in the second quarter, helping the Falcons push their lead to 40-28.
After baskets by Langley and Ridge Hodges cut the Pack deficit to eight (40-32), Harper and Carlton both hits 3’s and both had slams, as the Falcons took a 50-41 advantage.
A triple by Hodges pulled Washington within 50-44, but the Pack wouldn’t get any closer.
South Central used an 8-1 run to start the fourth, building a 65-47 lead. The Falcons were able to cruise from there.
Washington, which continued to struggle at the free throw line, was without the services of Lindsey Harris, who was out because of a medical reason.
GIRLS
South Central got a game-high 30 points from Danielle Butts. Amber Clark added 17 and Shavonte Mills 10 for the Falcons.
Beth Batchelor led Washington with nine points. Rachel Cantrell added eight for the Pack.
The Falcons raced out to a 9-0 lead and led by 13 points (21-8) after eight minutes.
South Central extended its lead to 20 (39-19) at the half and 29 (58-29) after three quarters.
Washington will be back in action Monday when it plays host to West Carteret.