AHOSKIE – Three players scored in double figures for HCHS Monday.

Their combined total – 56 points – was more than enough for Hertford County’s varsity girl’s to advance to the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state playoffs with a 68-38 win over West Craven.

Camaryn Jones led the Lady Bears with 20 points while Brandi Burden knocked down 19 and Brainte Bond chipped in 17 to pace Hertford County. Jamie Cherry led West Craven with a baker’s dozen.

Hertford County wasted little time getting control of the first round playoff game, scoring 21 points in the first quarter en route to a 14-point lead.

The scoring started with back-to-back hoops from Sherniece Futrell and Bond. West Craven, however, scored five of the next six to close the gap to one (6-5) thanks to a Cherry three-pointer.

The Lady Bears, however, seized control of the quarter at that point with a 15-2 spurt that put the game firmly in their hands.

Jones started the run with consecutive hoops and was followed by free throws from Futrell and Burden. Bond then scored from the floor to make it 15-5.

West Craven’s only hoop was a Shanice Thompson bucket, but she was followed by a hoop from Jones and a free throw by Futrell. Bond then buried a triple to establish the 21-7 lead.

The Lady Bears continued to pull away as the second quarter opened. Jones, Burden and Bond scored on successive possessions to push the lead to 27-7 before a Peanut Bryant basket for West Craven.

The Bears came back with six straight again. Takia Williams did the major damage with a triple as HCHS took a 33-10 lead. They led 35-14 at the intermission.

Cherry scored from the free throw line to open the second half, but Hertford County again went on a roll – this time scoring 11 of the next 12 points to secure a 30-point lead (46-16).

Burden did the bulk of the damage on the spurt with six points while Bond and Williams had two each.

Cherry finally halted the run with a bucket for West Craven, but Jones scored three straight points to push the Hertford County lead to 49-18.

The Lady Eagles were able to score six of the final eight points of the quarter – four from Thompson and two by Bryant – as they closed to 51-24 at the end of the period.

In the fourth quarter, Hertford County scored 17 points while holding West Craven to 14 as they completed the victory.

In addition to the three in double figures, the Bears got five each from Futrell and Williams and two from Casey Grant.

The victory marks the second time HCHS skipper Justin Frederes has led the Lady Bears to the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs. Frederes is now 31-15 in two seasons at the helm of the Lady Bears. The Lady Bears were 17-50 in the three seasons before his arrival.

HCHS (16-8) moved to the second round last night (Wednesday) where they played at South Central High School. The game finished too late for press time.