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It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that babies were born, grow up, graduated and found employment during the Washington-Hertford County boys basketball game Monday night, but it’s not far off.

While hardly an instant classic, the two teams battled through four overtimes in the Dave Smith Gym in front of a racous crowd that included a large group of WHS students who tried their best to pull their classmates through.

When the clock ran out for the final time, the Bears staggered off the floor with a 100-99 victory that received an A for entertainment value, but closer to a C for execution of basic basketball plays.

There were soaring dunks, electrifying fast breaks and rainbow three-pointers from all over the floor mixed in with missed free throws, turnovers and technical fouls.

The Pack (2-2) fell behind 17-5 to start the game, but Jacob Daniels’ three-pointer, Jeremiah Wiggins’ basket and free throw and Jerai Davenport’s lay-up after a steal gave WHS a 24-23 lead late in the first half.

The Bears (3-1) held a 29-28 halftime lead after Washington made two of 12 free throws in the first half.

Sophomore Jarryn Payne threw down a dunk after a lob from Davenport, Javon Williams hit a three-pointer, followed by a Chaise Smith three-ball, a basket and one after a Williams drive and a four-point play from Williams after he was fouled behind the three-point arc. The outburst put the Pack seemingly in charge, 43-33, with five minutes left in the third quarter.

However, the Bears clawed all the way back for a 49-49 tie starting the final (or so everyone thought) period.

A bucket from Gary Payne gave the Pack a 63-61 lead with eight seconds left, but the Bears drove the length of the floor for the tying layup as the buzzer sounded to force the first four-minute overtime.

WHS trailed 72-68 with 20 seconds left, but Williams snatched a rebound and drove all the way for a layup. Jarryn Payne stole the inbound pass and found Williams, who was fouled. The team’s leading scorer at 25 points a game, hit both foul shots to tie at 72 with 10.7 left.

Under heavy pressure, the Bears threw away the inbound pass, but Williams missed a jumper at the horn to send the titanic struggle into the second overtime.

The Pack led 83-80 with 20 seconds left, but let the Bears drive the length of the floor twice sandwiched between a Williams free throw for an 84-84 tie into the third extra session.

WHS trailed most of the way but Williams and Jarryn Payne hit key buckets late the force yet another four minutes of play tied at 92.

At this point, Gary Payne had fouled out and Smith and Davenport joined him on the sideline early in the fourth OT.

Hertford led 100-96 with 14 seconds left. Things were looking bleak for the home team, but nobody told Williams.

The junior hit an off-balance three-pointer near the top of the circle and was fouled with 1.3 seconds left. The teams were looking at a fifth overtime, but Williams shot rolled off the rim and the game was finally over, nearly three hours after it began.

“Javon carried us late and put us in a position to keep going,” coach David Allewalt said. “He tried his best as they all did. We were down early, battled back and kept battling all night. We knew they were a strong offensive rebounding team and we gave up too many second-chance points. We missed too many free throws (6-18 in regulation, 13-18 in the overtimes) and our shot selection wasn’t great at times. The guys are drained right now, but I’m proud of the way they competed.”

Williams led five players in double figures with 28 points. Gary Payne had 17, Jarryn Payne scored 14, Smith had 13 and Davenport added 10.

Hertford Co. junior Rimiez Williams led all scorers with 34 points, many on driving layups at key times.

 The Washington girls (1-4) couldn’t overtime a 14-5 first quarter deficit and fell, 50-41, playing without starters Triniti Burke and Audrey Miller, who were sick.

Junior Breanna Perry led the scoring with 23 points while classmate Avery Thomas added nine.

“It’s always the little things that get us,” coach Stevie Green said. “I love the way we hustle and am proud of our effort. When we stop turning the ball over and make more free throws, we’ll be a much better team.”