Malic Corey put in a layup in the waning moments of Tuesday’s game, grabbed the ball as it fell through the net, and emphatically slammed it onto the hardwood. It was the final basket in Washington’s 82-70 win over North Pitt. The victory marked the Pam Pack’s first in 2-A Eastern Plains Conference play, and first under interim coach Ralph Biggs.

“It feels good to get a win. I feel good for the guys and the staff,” Biggs said. “We all put a lot of work in to get this win. It feels good to get it. When you keep coming up short, it doesn’t feel good. … It kind of validates what we’ve been doing.”

North Pitt scored four of the game’s first six baskets. The Pam Pack’s two makes were both 3-pointers from forward Harvey McCullough. It kept Washington in the game as North Pitt trapped on defense to force turnovers and oftentimes got second-chance shots.

“We slowed down,” Biggs said. “Sometimes you’ve got to use your eyes, trust your eyes and what you see, and not just rely on athletic abilities.”

Washington trailed 14-8 late in the first. The Pam Pack regrouped, though, and was able to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. Thomas Edwards grabbed a rebound and put it back to ignite a run that bled into the second quarter.

The home side scored 14 unanswered points. A Suae Poe trey was sandwiched between point-blank buckets from Sharwan Staton and Nazzir Hardy. It put Washington ahead, 22-14.

North Pitt was seemingly on its heels. A quick spurt brought the Panthers within four, 31-27, but Staton counterpunched with a 3 from the corner. He had a short jumper and a free throw just before halftime to give Washington a 39-31 lead heading into the locker room.

Washington hasn’t led at halftime many times this season. That didn’t stop the players from being confident in their ability to stay on top and earn their first league win.

“I told them this is our fourth game of the night and we don’t have much for them, so they’re going to have to do it themselves,” Biggs joked. It was a long evening after the boys’ junior varsity team went to four overtimes.

Malik Bell took control at the beginning of the second half. He scored Washington’s first seven points of the third quarter. With 24 points in the game and a staunch defensive performance, he was instrumental to keeping the visiting Panthers at bay as they attempted a comeback.

“I wanted us to win. That’s all I was thinking about,” Bell said. “Once you get it and break it down, everything was opening up. We got good looks.”

Biggs added, “He decided to take some of the bake out of his game. He left a little bit of shake — enough shake to get to the basket — and took the bake out.”

North Pitt pulled within three, 50-47, in the third, but Washington closed out the period on a 6-2 surge. The Panthers didn’t let their hosts close out, though. The Pam Pack never led by more than nine in the fourth.

The visitors narrowed it down to one possession again. Washington called timeout, clinging to a 60-57 lead with 4:58 left to play. The Pam Pack was able to convert on its chances at the free-throw line, and Staton drove to the hoop for a few reverse layups.

Washington has another tough challenge ahead. Reigning 2-A state champion Farmville Central visits on Friday.