AHOSKIE – Brett Forbes scored 26 points and led Camden to victory here Wednesday night.

That victory came 61-48 over Northampton County High School – East in the fifth place contest of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic sponsored by United Country Joe Murray Realty.

In addition to Forbes, Camden had Jake McDaniels (13) in double digits. Northampton countered with Travis Wiggins scoring 12 points.

While the Bruins pulled away at the end, the game was close through most of the contest. Camden led just 9-7 after one quarter and held a slight 19-15 advantage at the intermission.

Northampton got off to a quick start, outscoring Camden 7-2 early with a pair of hoops from Evans Grant and Travis Whitehead. The rest of the scoring came at the free throw line.

Forbes rallied the Bruins with a hoop that started a 7-0 run to close out the first period to establish the 9-7 edge.

Kenny Graham tied the score as the second quarter opened, but Forbes answered with a triple that put the Bruins back on top by three.

A bucket by Jamar Williams and a pair of free throws by Chris Bishop, however, put Northampton ahead 13-12.

The Bruins came right back, getting a hoop from Mark Nelson and a three-pointer from McDaniels to surge in front 17-13. The teams exchanged baskets to keep Camden ahead by four at the break.

The Rams came out strong in the third quarter with Wiggins hitting a hoop and a pair of free throws to tie the game at 19-all.

The Bruins went back in front on a Forbes bucket, but two Graham free throws and a triple by Chris Bishop pushed the Rams ahead 24-21.

Colby Kravchek and Wiggins swapped three-pointers before Whitehead and Forbes exchanged deuces to leave Northampton in front by three (29-26).

Northampton pulled away thanks to a 7-1 run that saw Bishop, Williams and Kyshawn Gaskins all score.

Forbes, however, closed the third quarter on a personal 6-0 spurt to get Camden back within 36-32 heading into the final period.

Forbes continued his run with a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and then McDaniels added a bucket to put the Bruins in front 37-36.

Grant scored from behind the arc to give his team the lead, but Theo McCoy answered for Camden to give the Bruins a one-point edge (40-39).

Northampton scored again, this time on a hoop from Wiggins, to take what proved to be its last lead at 41-40.

Kravchek tied the game with a free throw before a Forbes hoop put the Bruins up for good.

Northampton rallied to within three (51-48) later in the contest, but would get no closer. McDaniels and Forbes had buckets for the Bruins to pull away and then Camden closed out the game at the free throw line.

In addition to those in double figures, McCoy had eight for Camden while Kravchek and Nelson had four each. Kendell Wilson and Jordan Hassell each had three.

The Rams got eight from both Graham and Bishop and Williams added seven. Grant chipped in five. Gaskins and Whitehead rounded out the scoring with four each.