Lady Pack begins ECC play 2-0

Published 11:37 pm Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Washington knew this week wouldn’t be easy. It played three games in three days with the first two being on the road. After a loss at North Pitt, the Lady Pack rebounded with back-to-back convincing wins to begin 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference play.

It began with a 49-26 win at Greene Central on Tuesday. That set up Washington to make its return home Wednesday when it hosted North Lenoir. After finding its footing, the Lady Pack down the Lady Hawks, 48-28, to improve to 2-0 in the ECC.

“We feel great because the two wins were conference wins,” head coach Ralph Biggs said. “That’s what we care about. We want to win every game, but winning conference games is what’s most important right now.”

Not only did Washington pick up a pair of lopsided wins, but it did so while still trying to get healthy. Tierra Wiggins is getting back into the swing of things after missing action due to a concussion. Others have worked through injuries and illnesses of their own.

“She started Monday. She cleared the concussion protocol. She’s trying to get her rhythm back,” he said. “It was good to have her back for the depth of the team. Cyntavea Blackledge was out. She was sick for the first two games (of the week).”

The hope is — even though Washington won consecutive games — that getting healthy and having time to practice and rest will only make it more dangerous.

The Lady Hawks jumped out to an early lead, but it didn’t last long thanks to Wiggins finding her shot early on. Two free throws and a 3-pointer tied the game at 10 apiece with 1:42 left in the first quarter. She knocked down another freebie before the end of the period to give Washington a lead it never surrendered.

Washington’s defense held the visitors to just one made field goal in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Cierra Wiggins would help create separation before halftime. She had a pair of layups and assisted on a short jump shot from Daria Jones.

The Lady Pack, leading 21-13 at halftime, only added onto it in the second half. Hailey Respass and Kizoria Redmond provided hot hands for home-standing Washington. Respass drained the first three buckets of the half. Redmond followed that with four-straight makes, including one from long range, to push the advantage to 39-16.

“It was great because a lot of teams are going to key in on Daria,” Biggs said. “They focused on Daria and Tierra. That opens things up for Hailey. She’s been playing great the whole season. She’s been our steady hand.

“We’re a team. We’re not just two or three players.”

North Lenoir ended the third quarter with seven unanswered points. The gap was still 16 points, and Washington’s defense held the Lady Hawks to two baskets in the fourth. The Lady Pack will host Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday before heading out to South Central’s Christmas tournament.