AHOSKIE – A strong defensive effort helped Hertford County avenge an early-season loss here Tuesday.

In Winterville earlier this year, the Bears lost to South Central in double overtime, but in Ahoskie, no extra session was needed as the Bears pulled off a 61-50 non-conference win.

“I thought it was a real good defensive effort in the second half,” veteran HCHS skipper Charles Simmons said. “Offensively, we came together and played as a team. We got the ball to the right people at the right time in key situations.

“I was real pleased with our effort,” he added. “We will take this game and continue to improve.”

Petey Boone paced the Bears in their win over South Central as he dropped in 18 on the visiting Falcons. Jordan  Jones recorded 16 in the victory while Dontez Tyler and Wayne Simmons scored 10 each.

Danta Harper led South Central with 21 points.

The game was a close one throughout until HCHS rolled off 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Leading 47-45 as the fourth period opened, the Bears got a three-pointer from Boone, only to see Harper score from the charity stripe on the other end.

Tyler, however, sparked a 10-0 run with his hoop at the 6:42 mark of the quarter. He was followed by a bucket from Shabazz Atkins, a three-pointer by Simmons and free throws from Boone, Tyler and Jones as they pulled ahead 60-46 with 3:45 to play.

Harper stopped the run with a hoop, but Boone converted 1-of-2 from the line as the Bears sealed the victory.

Early on, HCHS trailed 11-8 near the end of the first quarter only to get back-to-back hoops from Boone and Jones and take a 12-11 lead by the end of the period.

The battle continued in the second quarter, but Anthony Hilliard hit a pair of three-pointers late in the period to help the Falcons take a 33-29 halftime lead.

That lead grew to 37-29 early in the second half, but the Bears scored 10 of the final 11 points of the quarter to lead 47-45.

Boone had the key shot on that run with a three-pointer that ignited the spurt.

The win made it two straight for the Bears as they improved to 6-3. They will be back in action Monday when they meet Gates County in the opening round of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic sponsored by United Country Joe Murray Realty.