Bertie gains spilt vs. Edenton-Holmes

Published 8:29 am Thursday, November 30, 2023

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By ANDRE ALFRED

Sports Correspondent

WINDSOR – Bertie High School welcomed non-conference foe Edenton Holmes for a varsity basketball doubleheader here Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Jeremiah Benthall glides down the baseline with an acrobatic move complimented by an “and one” basket to help Bertie defeat Edenton-Holmes on Tuesday night. A.A. Imaging / Andre Alfred

Bertie’s varsity girls found themselves under new/old leadership with head coach Chris Jordan. Coach Jordan took over the reins after Coach Hayes decided not to return. Jordan isn’t new to coaching as he led Bertie’s varsity girls to the state finals two years ago.

Unfortunately for this season’s Lady Falcons, a late fourth quarter surge catapulted the Lady Aces to victory as they rallied late in the game to pull out a 49-36 win.

Bertie jumped out to a nine-point run early in the first quarter and led 11-5 by the end of the period. By halftime, the Lady Falcons held a 20-11 advantage.

At the beginning of the third quarter, Holmes was able to score four points via two free throws and a two-point basket, trimming their deficit to 20-15.

The scoring frenzy of Aces’ Chloe Chappell and Kate Foster and defensive specialist Ellie Spears aided in the Holmes comeback.

Bertie remained in the lead for the entire three quarters of the game until the whistle sounding the start of the fourth quarter.

By halfway through the fourth quarter, the Falcons maintained the lead, but barely as the Aces continued chipping away.

With 4:59 left, Holmes tied the score at 35 with a three pointer by Spears, followed by a lead changing bucket from Linza Bond giving the Aces a 37-35 advantage.

The bucket from Bond took the air out of the Falcons as the Lady Aces never looked back and went on to win 49-36.

In the varsity boys game, Bertie head coach Johnnie Rascoe returned for his third year.

With only two scrimmages before the regular season, the boys transitioned well and regulated the Aces by beating them confidently, 64-25.

Tied at 2-2 in the early going, the Falcons used an 11-point run to jump out to a commanding 13-2 lead and forcing the Aces to burn a timeout with 3:51 left to play in the first period.

By the time the buzzer sounded ending the first quarter, Bertie held a 29-6 lead.

Things didn’t get better for the Aces in the second quarter where they scored only one point. The Falcons added 20 to their total, allowing Bertie to build a 49-6 halftime lead.

Even as Bertie went through the subbing rotation, they were able to hold the Aces at bay and cruise through the remaining two quarters with ease.