AHOSKIE – The Bears continue to roll.

Hertford County High School earned another bid to the finals of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic sponsored by United Country Joe Murray Realty.

The Bears varsity boy’s basketball team beat previously undefeated Gates County 90-56 to earn that bid in the finals where they met Northampton County High School n East last night (Friday).

Lamar Monger led four Hertford County players in double figures with his game-high 25 points. Marcus Burnell had 17 while Deshawn Outlaw and Antonio Vaughan contributed 11 points each.

The early going was good for Gates County as Seddrick Blow hit a triple and Marcus Coston scored a field goal to give the Barons a 5-2 lead.

Hertford County, however, scored the next 16 points to take an 18-5 lead.

Burnell and Monger hit back-to-back buckets before Jamal Jones delivered two free throws. Hoops by Monger and Jones and Jones were followed by two Burnell free throws and scores by Vaughan and Monger as the Bears took the big lead.

Gates County got buckets from Derrick Eason and Coston to get within 18-9, but HCHS scores from Burnell and Outlaw gave the Bears a 22-9 lead after one quarter.

Hertford County continued to pull away as the second quarter began. The Bears scored the first five points and led 27-9.

They still held that 18-point advantage (39-21) late in the second quarter when Monger hit a free throw, Vaughan scored a triple and Darren Everett chipped in a field goal to give the Bears a 45-21 lead at the half.

HCHS pushed that lead to 51-23 early in the third quarter. Then the Red Barons went on a 7-0 run to chip away at the advantage.

Blow sandwiched a bucket and a triple around a Coston basket to get the Red Barons within 51-30. Another Blow three-pointer later in the quarter got the Barons back to within 21 (55-34).

Gates County got as close as 20 (59-39) late in the third quarter, but Hertford County scored the final three hoops n two from Outlaw and one from Jones n to take a 65-39 lead after three periods.

Hertford County then coasted the rest of the way to earn the finals appearance.

Gates County met Bertie in the Consolation Game of the tournament Friday night.

HCHS (90): Lamar Monger n 25, Marcus Burnell n 17, Deshawn Outlaw n 11, Antonio Vaughan n 11, Jamal Jones n 8, Shea Johnson n 7, Jordan Jones n 5, Darren Everette n 4, Ivan Coulton n 2

Gates (56): Seddrick Blow n 20, Marcus Coston n 8, Danny Hobbs n 7, Derrick Eason n 6, Raphael Nickens n 6, Damien Eason n 3, John Morris n 2, Walter Smith n 2, Curtis Blow – 2