By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
SNOW HILL — When fans left Greene Central High School Tuesday evening, they were greeted with frost on their cars. The gymnasium was equally cold for the majority of the boys game until Washington grew hot late, eventually running away with a 64-50 win in the season opener.
Washington scored just three points in the first quarter, but erupted for 29 in the fourth to pull away.
The Pam Pack girls also won their season opener, pulling out a thrilling 62-58 overtime victory.
Lawrence could only scratch his head as his Pam Pack boys (1-0) struggled mightily early on against the Rams (0-3). With Washington going scoreless in the first 6:06 of the game, the Rams bolted to a 9-0 lead.
Phillip Horton hit one free throw to finally get Washington on the scoreboard. Jarees Griffin hit the Pack’s first field goal, coming with one minute left in the period. Despite the frigid shooting and numerous turnovers, the Pack only trailed 11-3 after the first quarter.
It was a sign of things to come for Griffin. He single-handily kept the Pack in the game, scoring 12 of his team’s 17 first-half points. The Rams held a 21-17 lead at the break.
The Rams went up by as many as seven, but a 6-0 spurt got Washington within striking distance. Brandon Tripp muscled his way inside for a bucket to cap the run and pull the Pack within 31-30.
Washington, which trailed by four after three quarters, opened the fourth in a big way. A three-point play by Griffin, which gave the Pack its first lead of the game at 40-39, highlighted an 11-0 run. Dakuan Spencer, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half, capped the run with a jumper to make it 46-39.
Taraja Langley’s floater in the paint pushed the lead to double digits, 53-43, with 3:30 to play.
Bobby Waters, who paced Greene Central with 17 points, hit a triple to make it a six-point game. However, Washington withstood the late charge.
Mike Moore added 10 points and Langley nine in the victory.
OT thriller
Greene Central’s Dominique Graham’s put-back with two seconds to play forced overtime, but Washington took control in the extra session.
Harmony Simpkins, who paced the Pack with 16 points, came up with clutch baskets and a couple key assists in the overtime session.
Beth Batchelor and Teamber Burke added 11 points apiece for Washington (1-0). Jordan Cantrell, making her Washington debut after transferring from Terra Ceia, had seven points and six assists before fouling out late in regulation. Sharita Grice also netted seven points, while Davey Ann Burbage had six.
Shoniece Pettaway had 17 for the Rams (0-3).
Washington led by as many as six points in the fourth, 44-38, after a Grice basket. However, Greene Central was able to force overtime.
Burke, a freshman, got inside for a bucket to give Washington a 51-49 advantage. Burbage took a sweet dish from Simpkins for an easy basket to give the Pack a 58-52 lead.
The Rams never threatened again as Batchelor and Vantasia Palmer hit clutch free throws down the stretch.
In junior varsity boys action, Greene Central took a 51-46 win.
The Pack plays at Williamston tonight. Washington will play its home opener Friday against Northside.
Washington 3 14 18 29 — 64
Greene Central 11 10 18 11 — 40
WASHINGTON (64)
Jarees Griffin 19, Dakuan Spencer 13, Mike Moore 10, Langley 9, Albritton 4, Tripp 3, Harris 2, Chance 2, Horton 1, Godley 1, Ward, Jankovic, Ross.
GREENE CENTRAL (40)
Bobby Waters 17, Sheppard 8, Freeman 7, Dawson 6, C. Edwards 4, R. Edwards 4, Webb 2, Fleming 2, Dixon, Bynum, Johnson, Whitiker.
Girls
Washington 8 14 11 16 13 — 62
Greene Central 10 6 16 17 9 — 58
WASHINGTON (62)
Harmony Simpkins 16, Beth Batchelor 11, Teamber Burke 11, J. Cantrell 7, Grice 7, Burbage 6, Palmer 4.
GREENE CENTRAL (58)
Dominique Graham 21, Shoniece Pettaway 17, T. Pettaway 9, Jones 7, Connor 3, Cannon 1, Beamon, Jackson, Harris, Sutton.