AHOSKIE – Bertie High completed a season-sweep of Hertford County here Friday night and in posting their 8^th win in 2A Northeastern Coastal Conference play, 48-41, the Lady Falcons secured the top-seed in this week’s conference tournament.

Jessica Weaver closed out her career on Senior Night with 16 points to lead Hertford County, but Akyia King had 21 to lead all scorers; including posting her 1,000^th career point while only a junior.

Both teams entered the contest riding four-game win streaks, and the Lady Bears looked as if they wanted to keep theirs intact with an early lead, courtesy of a three-pointer from Ashlee Weaver. Neither team played well in the first quarter as Hertford County was able to eek out a 7-5 lead.

Bertie tied it early as part of a 10-0 run to start the second quarter; that total also included King’s 1,000^th career point, scored on a three-pointer. The Bears went four minutes before scoring, then later strung together a 5-0 run to pull within three, 17-14. A Weaver triple made it a two-point game, 19-17, before Destiny Clark scored for Bertie just before the halftime buzzer; 21-17 at the mid-break.

Early scores from Weaver and Ashanti Bowser to open the second half knotted the game for the first time, 21-21. Bertie scored twice, but the Bears did also, and tied it up again, 25-all. Dawaunti Combs’ free throw broke the stalemate, but three-of-four from the line by Brianna Howard gave Hertford County a two-point lead, 28-26. But King was fouled on a three-pointer, then drained all three foul shots for a one-point 29-28 Bertie lead headed to the fourth quarter.

Jessica Weaver quickly tied the game before sister, Ashlee, gave Hertford County a 31-29 lead. But Morgan Mazyck scored and Combs drained a three pointer, and the Bears never led again. D.L. Watford’s final points – a made free throw – pulled Hertford County within three, 37-34, but Bertie scored on a pair of Combs jump shots for a five point lead.

The Bears’ last gasp came with 1:47 remaining on a Howard lay-up to make it 39-36. From there it was foul-shooting time, and Bertie made seven-of-eight – missing only their last attempt – to preserve the win.

A coin flip determined the Falcons as top-seed for the tournament, though their 8-2 conference record matched Pasquotank’s. Hertford County plays Northeastern tonight (Tuesday) at Pasquotank in the first round while Bertie’s off until tomorrow (Wed.), and could meet the Bears again should they (HCHS) win tonight.

BERTIE GIRLS   (48)

Akyia King-21, Dawaunti Combs-11, Morgan Mazyck-6, Nyasia Barnes-5, Daesha Smith-3, Destiny Clark-2.

HERTFORD COUNTY GIRLS   (42)

Jessica Weaver-16, Brianna Howard-8, Ashanti Bowser-7, D.L Watford-6, Ashlee Weaver-5.