GREENVILLE – To say Hertford County High School had a successful season would be an understatement.

The Bears tied school records with 24 wins and a trip to the Eastern Regional. The Bears had four players average double figures and head coach Charles Simmons put together yet another 20-win season.

Perhaps the most shocking part of this year’s run to 24 wins is that the team is relatively young with only one senior starter and three total.

While they were small in number, their contribution to the club was unquestionable.

&uot;Our seniors will be sorely missed,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;They will be hard to replace.&uot;

LaMarcus Bond, the senior guard who will be playing football at North Carolina State University next season, had a stellar season and is undoubtedly one of the best players in the area.

&uot;LaMarcus Bond is one of the most competitive young men to play the game,&uot; the coach said. &uot;He did it for us on offense and defense. Whatever we needed at that time, he gave it to us.&uot;

Wayne Pryor spent many nights coming off the bench and providing a spark for the Bears and that role proved to be important.

&uot;Wayne is a sparkplug for us off the bench,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;He also was one of our better outside shooters.&uot;

And while Mychal Moore didn’t see a lot of playing time, the coach insisted he was a key part of the club.

&uot;He didn’t play a lot, but he did a lot in practice to get the kids ready,&uot; Simmons said.

The three seniors and a talented group of underclassmen helped HCHS win the Northeastern Coastal Conference regular season and tournament championships and also win a Sectional Championship.

Those accomplishments loom large, but next season’s squad will also be very capable.

&uot;We feel like we have an excellent opportunity to repeat in the conference and go back to the Regionals,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;We’ve got holes to fill and some kids will have to do different things next year, but we have a chance.&uot;

The coach said he believed some student-athletes who didn’t play this season will be on the team next year and will contribute.

Whatever next season holds, the Bears have a 2005-2006 season they will be able to remember fondly.

&uot;I feel good about this season,&uot; Simmons said. &uot;The kids had the right attitude from day one. We started the season well and it carried over all year.&uot;