AHOSKIE – Seven unanswered points midway through the third quarter proved to be the difference as Hertford County took third place in the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic Tournament with an 85-75 win over bitter rival, Bertie.

The win broke a three-game losing streak for the Bears.

After two games of anemic offense, five Hertford County players scored in double-figures in Wednesday night’s win, led by Jaquarii Roberson with 28.  Bertie’s Quatravis Riddick was high scorer in the game with 32 points for Bertie.

“We did a good job on the offensive and defensive ends,” said a relieved, but exhausted Hertford County coach Charles Simmons. “Bertie played hard; we had a great effort and it was a good win.”

As usual, the Bears came out bombing away: hitting three of their first five three-point shots – including back-to-back treys from Roberson – and built a nine-point lead, 13-4.  But Bertie was scrappy as well, and came back to outscore the host team 11-to-four to only trail by two at the end of the first quarter, 17-15.

The Bears opened things up in the second quarter; including Roberson bringing the crowd to its feet with a monstrous slam-dunk to give Hertford County a 24-18 lead.  The two teams then began matching shots, as neither could stop the other and Bertie saw an eight-point deficit reduced to just two points at halftime, 38-36.

Bertie’s Jamarii White got a steal and lay-up to open the second half, and Bertie had tied the game for the first time, 38-all.  Jerimaiah Morris then sank a soft jump shot and the Falcons had their first lead of the contest.  Falcon fans’ euphoria was short lived, however, as Hertford County answered with a short run to re-claim the top spot.  Riddick then hit a fade away jump shot midway through the period for the game’s second tie: 48-48.  It was 50-50 when the Bears closed out the third with a run that put them up by five, 58-53, headed to the fourth.

Bertie’s foul trouble created a march to the free throw line for Hertford County and the Bears responded by hitting seven-of-ten and built up a nine-point lead again, 66-57 with under six minutes to play. Still Bertie kept coming, but couldn’t get any closer.  It was still a nine-point lead with just over three-minutes remaining, 74-65, when the Bears made their final run.  The Falcons were never far away, but couldn’t close the gap, and when Zion Riddick drained the final two points, Hertford County had captured a ten-point win.

“It was a tough and physical game,” said Bertie coach Derrick Bond. “We came out flat at the beginning of the game, and at the end, we just didn’t execute. Hertford County is well-coached.”

“We’re finally realizing what we need to do to become a really successful team,” said Simmons.

Hertford County (3-4) travels to Northeastern Tuesday night to resume NCC conference play while Bertie (2-9) are also away from home.  The Falcons open the New Year, also on the road, across the Chowan River at Edenton Holmes on that same night.

BERTIE (75)

Quatravis Riddick-32, Jamarii White-11, Deontre Brant-9, Jeremaiah Morris-7, Jaqwan Baylor-7, Joshua Burden-6, Alden Cottle-3.

HERTFORD COUNTY (85)

Jaquarii Roberson-28, Talik Totten-14, Qyshaun Chism-14, Zion Riddick-14, Rayshawn Beamon-10, Delmonta Cherry-3, Lance Hunter-2.