The odds were not in the Pam Pack’s favor for Tuesday’s home opener against Ayden-Grifton. With just seven players activated, mostly due to the number of dual-sport athletes on the football team, which happens to be making a deep playoff run, the roster should have been just that, a roster, not a cohesive unit.

But with a seasoned shooting guard, a soccer goalie at center and head coach that has yet to practice with his full squad, Washington knocked off a taller, quicker and more organized Ayden-Grifton team, 57-53, Tuesday night in the home opener.

“You have to love the fight in those guys … you have to love that fight. They never quit,” said head coach Steven Flowers.

The Chargers had all the momentum, fresh off a 62-59 upset of J.H. Rose on Monday. Jahkevus Edwards, an offensive-minded center who outrebounded his counterpart, was steady throughout the game and led his team in scoring, but a 21-point fourth quarter from the Pam Pack erased a double-digit lead and secured its first win of the season.

In the first quarter, it was Washington powering its way to a quick lead on the back of shooting guard John Whitley, who with a limited roster was the unquestioned floor leader. Whitley notched 10 points and three steals through the first eight minutes, providing the defense enough of a cushion to contain. However, two late three-pointers from Tyler Johnson cut the Pam Pack lead to one-point at the end of the quarter.

Whitley cooled off in the second, but center William Tate and point guard Azim Anthony made up the difference. At the half, Ayden-Grifton led 32-20.

“We talked about getting outrebounded,” Flowers said. “They were killing us on the boards, but we started to hit a couple of shots. We warmed up by then, but the rebounding was key at the end.”

Out of the break, Ayden-Grifton quickly controlled the tempo, forcing a series of outside shots that began to widen its lead. It was a similar script that led to the team’s 3-12 record last season — start strong, stay in the game, finish poorly, but this story had a different ending.

After recording just six points in the third quarter, Washington was staring at a nine-point deficit heading into the final eight minutes. Twelve months ago, this is where the negative body language and inerrant turnovers would have kicked in. Instead, the opposite occurred.

Even with all the pregame adversity, the Pam Pack powered back. A three from Anthony, nine points from forward Matthew Holloway and a couple of clutch free throws from Whitley and the home team was back in the game.

With a minute left in the contest, a pair of free throws gave Washington a 50-49 lead, it’s first sine the first quarter. Then, smart basketball kicked in. Whitley hit his free throws, the guards avoided turning the ball over and Washington walked away with the victory.

“Our guards, we have three good guys who hit key shots when we needed them. They hit free throws when we needed them. I love these guys,” Flowers said.

Whitley finished with a game-high 18 points, while Holloway notched 14 points.

Washington will seek win No. 2 against Northside tomorrow at home.