BARCO – Hertford County High’s girl’s basketball team picked up their second Northeastern Coastal Conference win of the season Tuesday night here, 44-41, over the Lady Knights of Currituck.

Kyara Rodgers led the Lady Bears with 17 points while Vanessa Mitchell also scored in double-figures with 13. Rounding out the scoring were Desiree James and Ashonta Basnight with five points each and Alexia Pope with four.

“The game went well for us,” said senior guard Bailey Nicholas after the game. We had our ups and downs but we made our free throws at the end and it was a big conference win for us.”

Currituck led 7-6 after the first quarter in a low-scoring start to the contest. But HertfordCounty turned up their offense in the second quarter, outscoring the Knights, 10-6, and grabs a 16-13 Bear lead at halftime.

Hertford County built on that lead and was up by five at the end of the third quarter, 31-26. Down the stretch Currituck tried to make it a game and steal one at home, but the Lady Bears made five of eight free throws and pulled out a three-point win.

Hertford County is now 3-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play.  They will travel to Bertie for a game on Friday night.

In the varsity men’s game on Tuesday night, Hertford County placed three players in double-figures as the Bears demolished Currituck, 68-29, in a Northeastern Coastal Conference game.

The Bears romped through the first quarter, finishing with a 25-6 lead in the first eight minutes of the game.  In the second quarter the Knights still couldn’t score in double-figures on the Hertford County defense as Hertford County ran roughshod once more, 15-to-5, and led it 40-11 when the two teams headed to the locker room at halftime.

Hertford County led 49-20 after three quarters and went on to win by one point shy of 40.

“Tonight we played together as a basketball team on the offensive and defensive ends,” said head coach Charles Simmons. “We pushed the ball in transition and made smart decisions. It was a good conference win on the road for us.”

Jquwan Ruffin led the Bears with 17 points while Evan Simmons, making his third start of the year, scored 12.  Jarrett Sexton contributed 11 points and rounding out the rest of the Hertford County scoring was Marquise Clarke with 8, Tyquan Davis with 7 and five for Darius Wright.  O’Shane Ximines had four points while Malachi Staton and Jemel Monger had two points apiece.

Hertford County raises its record to 9-3 and 3-0 in the NCC. They will have their first game with rival, Bertie, on the road in Windsor on Friday night. Junior varsity games begin at 4 p.m.