AHOSKIE – Too much Bertie, too much of the time.

For the third time this season, Bertie’s Lady Falcons had their way with rival Hertford County, this time around a 67-39 win here Friday night where the two teams wrapped-up their regular seasons on the basketball court.

Now, as if it was destined, the two clubs will meet again tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. at Bertie High School in the first round of the Northeastern Coastal Conference tournament. Bertie (9-3 in the league and 15-6 overall) enters the annual post-season affair as the conference’s #2 seed. Hertford County (0-12; 4-18) comes in as the #7 seed.

On Friday in Ahoskie, Bertie was having a hard time putting away the Lady Bears as HCHS only trailed by nine (20-11) after back-to-back baskets from Raqueta Moore. The Lady Falcons finally found the answer in the form of Satora Swain and Monica Outlaw who combined to score the game’s next eight points. By the time Ayanna Wilson and Devona Bond each added a hoop, Bertie was off and running towards a 32-18 halftime lead.

The Lady Bears tried valiantly to keep up with their talented visitors. A pair of Briante Bond baskets and one each by T’kiyah Outlaw and Danielle Futrell kept HCHS within striking distance, trailing 40-26 late in the third quarter. But Bertie was just too tough as the Lady Falcons, sparked by Yashanti Bridgers and Montressa Perry, used a 13-4 run to close out the period and then scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to take a commanding 61-30 lead.

Lady Falcons (67)

Yashanti Bridgers – 15, Devona Bond – 14, Ayanna Wilson – 9, Satora Swain – 9, Tierra Brown – 6, Montressa Perry – 6, Monica Outlaw – 6, Latoya Gillam – 2.

Lady Bears (39)

Raqueta Moore – 12, Briante Bond – 4, Danielle Futrell – 4, T’kiyah Outlaw – 4, Domonique Wallace – 4, Joya Handy – 3, Tekia Williams – 3, Bardreda Williams – 2, Olivia Edwards – 2, Danielle Downing – 1.