AHOSKIE – If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That’s the recipe Hertford County High School has used this season. The Bears have combined aggressive defense with balanced scoring to soar to the top of the Northeastern Coastal Conference.

The formula worked again Friday night when the Bears put five in double figures as they rolled past Edenton 98-48.

“I was pleased with our effort tonight,” HCHS basketball boss Charles Simmons said. “We did a good job pushing the ball in transition and looking for the open man.

“Defensively, we had good intensity,” he continued. “Everybody got to play and this was a good win for us.”

Marcus Burnell led an offensive onslaught with 22 points. He was joined in double digits by Antonio Branch (15), LaMarcus “Buck” Jenkins (12), Darren Everette (12) and Tydreke Powell (10). Danny Dembry, Andre Lyles, Jacob Dunlow, Patrick Downing and Lamar Monger also scored for HCHS.

The game turned in Hertford County’s favor quickly as the Bears rallied from a 6-3 deficit to lead 12-6 after a 9-0 run sparked by Powell and Jenkins.

Another 10-0 spurt followed moments later, sparked by Lyles and ended by Everette, as the Bears pushed the advantage to 22-8. The Bears led 24-12 after one quarter.

Edenton closed within 31-26 after going on a 10-3 spurt midway through the second quarter, but Hertford County rolled off 16 unanswered points and led 47-28 at the intermission.

Success continued to come the way of the Bears in the third period when Jenkins scored and Powell hit back-to-back hoops to spark HCHS to a 13-0 run that gave them a 63-30 lead with 4:25 to play in the third quarter. Hertford County led 71-38 by the end of the period.

Despite liberal substituting by the Bears, Hertford County again went on a tear, this time rolling off 11 straight points and 17 of the next 19 as they took a 92-42 lead.

The Bears improved to 17-2 overall and kept their place atop the Northeastern Coastal Conference at 8-1. They travel to Pasquotank Tuesday night.

HCHS (98): Marcus Burnell n 22, Antonio Branch n 15, LaMarcus Jenkins n 12, Darren Everette n 12, Tydreke Powell n 10, D. Dembry n 8, A. Lyles n 6, J. Dunlow n 6, P. Downing n 5, L. Monger n 2

Edenton (48): Doche Mercer n 14, Thomas Vaughan n 10, Devonte Bond n 10, J. Duncan n 6, E. Joseph n 3, D. Hoffler n 2, A. Parks n 2, D. Walton – 1