WINTERVILLE – Donta Harper scored 30 points for South Central here Wednesday.

Hertford County’s Jordan Jones wouldn’t be outdone, however, as he matched that 30-point performance.

In the end, however, South Central edged Hertford County 74-68 to win the rubber match between the two schools and advance to the Sectional Finals in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs.

The Bears didn’t go down without a fight though as they rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter before falling to the Falcons.

HCHS trailed 53-50 heading into the fourth quarter and South Central quickly added to that deficit when Harper  hit a bucket and three free throws to go along with an Anthony Hilliard basket. They were answered only by a Jones field goal as South Central took a 60-52 lead with 6:25 to play.

Boone, however, connected on a three-pointer that was followed by a triple from Shabazz Atkins as the Bears roared back. Jones then hit two free throws and a hoop that gave the Bears a 62-60 edge.

Harper tied the contest at 62-all with four minutes to play and then Hilliard and Fred Querry had back-to-back scores to push the home team ahead 66-62.

Jones and D’Isaac Jordan sandwiched a pair of hoops around a Querry bucket as the Bears got back within two (68-66) with just over a minute to play.

South Central, however, hit six free throws over the final minute answered by a Jones hoop as they sealed the six-point win.

In addition to the 30-point output by Jones, the Bears got 18 from Dontez Tyler and 11 from Petey Boone as all three closed out their high school careers. Dekimis Perry added four while Atkins had three and Jordan had two points.

The game was close throughout the first quarter with South Central getting an early lead only to see the Bears pull ahead on a Tyler field goal.  The teams exchanged hoops before the Bears got two straight from Tyler and Jones to take an 11-8 lead.

South Central responded with seven of the next eight points and led 15-12 after one period of play.

Jones scored to open the second quarter and helped the Bears with eight total in the period.

HCHS used a three-pointer by Perry and a Jones hoop late in the second period to go into the locker room with the game tied 31-all at the half.

South Central, however, outscored HCHS 22-19 in the period to set up the closing run.

Hertford County finished the season 22-5.