AHOSKIE – Hertford County won victory number eight here Tuesday.

The Bears knocked off non-league foe Nash Central 78-63 thanks to a 25-point performance from senior Jordan Jones.

Petey Boone was also in double digits for the Bears with 16 points while Dontez Tyler chipped in 11 and Wayne Simmons added 10. Demetre Clark led Nash Central with 19 points.

Despite the final margin, the contest was close throughout the first half and late into the third quarter.

Tied at 39-all following a Jalen Hendricks bucket for the Bulldogs, Hertford County scored 11 of the next 15 points to surge ahead 50-43 by the end of the quarter.

Boone started the spurt with a three-pointer while Jones had a bucket as did Dikimis Perry. Tyler added a triple during the run.

Hertford County didn’t let up when the fourth quarter began.

Boone started the period with a triple and then, after a Clark hoop, Simmons buried a three. Tyler added two free throws and the Bears led 58-45 with 6:34 to play in the contest.

The Bulldogs scored three straight to try to close the gap, but Jones had a field goal and a free throw to push the Bears back in front by 13 (61-48).

Both teams continued to push over the final four minutes, but the Bulldogs couldn’t get closer than 11 and the Bears finished off the contest with the 15-point victory.

Shabazz Atkins and Perry each had six in the win for the Bears while D’Isaac Jordan added four. Nash Central got 14 from Hendricks and 12 from Nathaniel Pittman.

The early going saw a close game with Nash Central charging out to an 11-6 lead only to see Hertford County come back and take a three-point edge by the end of the first period.

Trailing by five, the Bears got a triple from Atkins to close the gap to 11-9 and then, after a Pittman score, Simmons buried a triple to close the gap to 13-12.

Hendricks scored to push Nash Central back ahead by three, but the Bears answered with another three-pointer – this one by Atkins – as they tied the game at 15-all.

HCHS finally took the lead on a free throw by Tyler and Jordan added a hoop to make it 20-17 after one quarter.

The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the second period to take the lead 22-20, but a hoop by Jordan gave the Bears a 23-22 lead with four minutes to play in the first half.

The game remained close through the remainder of the second quarter with a three-pointer from Simmons helping the Bears hold a 28-27 halftime edge.

The third quarter was close throughout until the Bears went on the run that sealed the win.

HCHS improved to 8-3 overall as they head into Friday’s home date with Pasquotank County High School.