AHOSKIE – After a close first quarter Bertie pulled away to take an easy victory over Northampton-East in the opening round of the News-Herald Holiday Classic here Tuesday night.

East took advantage of a Bertie turnover as Jeremy Taylor took the ball in for two to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.

Kent Bazemore hit three buckets and Brandon Brown sank a trey to put the Falcons out front 9-2.

Following a Rams timeout, Jeffrey Long took a steal to the hoop and Mike Corbin hit a foul shot to pull East within four (9-5).

Corbin hit a shot from half court at the buzzer to cut the Bertie lead to one (9-8).

The teams traded baskets in the second with Bertie carrying a five point lead into the half (21-16).

Travis Bond scored a layup for Bertie to start the third quarter.

Following a Taylor foul shot for East Brown hit a three and Jermaine Jackson sank a bucket to give Bertie an 11-point lead (28-17).

After a basket by Long, Bertie went on a 12-0 scoring run to take a 40-19 lead.

A basket by Long just before the buzzer cut the Bertie lead to 19 (40-21).

The Rams had difficulty getting their shot to drop, shooting only 15% from the floor in the third quarter.

Bertie continued to dominate on both sides of the floor in the final quarter en route to a 56-37 victory.

The Falcons forced 18 East turnovers while holding the Rams to 24 percent shooting from the floor.

Bazemore led Bertie with 24 points.

Brown added 11 points for the Falcons.

Long scored 14 for the Rams followed by Taylor with 10.

Bertie faced Hertford County in the Championship game Wednesday night while East met Gates County in the consolation game.

Bertie (56): Kent Bazemore – 24, Brandon Brown – 11, T. Bond – 3, J. Gilliam – 3, D. Wesson – 3, J. Jackson – 2, C. Lassiter – 2, D. Williams – 2, W. Credle – 2, M. Holley – 2

East (37): Jeffrey Long – 14, Jeremy Taylor – 10, M. Corbin – 6, D. Anderson – 5, Q. Shoulars – 2