ELIZABETH CITY – Tydreke Powell poured in 21 points.

LaMarcus “Buck” Jenkins hit for 19.

That pair and three other Hertford County Bears hit double figures here Wednesday night when HCHS rolled into the Northeastern Coastal Conference tournament championship game with a 90-68 win over Currituck.

“We had a good defensive and offensive team effort tonight,” Hertford County coach Charles Simmons said. “We were unselfish on offense and played with defensive intensity. We’re happy to be back in the championship game.”

The Knights weren’t easy to contain, however, as they actually led 19-18 after one quarter and pushed that lead to five points early in the second period.

With the Knights holding a 29-25 lead late in the second period, HCHS got a triple from Andre Lyles and a Powell hoop to take a 30-29 lead.

They extended that lead to 33-31 when Jenkins buried a triple and then out to 36-33 when Lyles did the same. Powell followed Lyles with a hoop and Lamar Monger scored to give HCHS a 40-35 lead. They held that same five-point margin (43-38) at the end of the first half.

Jeremy Basnight got the Knights within three (43-40) when he opened the second half with a hoop, but HCHS rolled off the next 15 points to pull away to a comfortable cushion.

Marcus Burnell started the spurt with his hoop and was followed by buckets from Jenkins, Powell and Antonio Branch.

Hertford County eventually built the lead to 71-50 by the end of the third quarter, thanks to a hoop and free throw by Powell near the period’s end.

Jenkins hit two of the first three baskets of the fourth quarter and Powell added a free throw as HCHS surged ahead 76-52.

Currituck got a three-pointer by Sterling Robinson and two shots from the charity stripe by Justin Saunders to get back to within 20 (78-58), but the Bears again pulled away and secured the win.

Monger (13), Burnell (10) and Branch (10) were the other three Bears in double figures. Basnight led Currituck with 19 points.

The Bears, who improved to 22-2 on the year, advanced to the Northeastern Coastal Conference championship on Friday night. That game ended too late for press time.

HCHS (90): Tydreke Powell n 21, LaMarcus Jenkins n 19, Lamar Monger n 13, Marcus Burnell n 10, Antonio Branch n 10, A. Lyles n 7, D. Dembry n 4, J. Dunlow n 2, D. Porter n 2, A. Vaughan n 2

Currituck (68): Jeremy Basnight n 19, Sterling Robinson n 13, Joe Molo n 10, J. Saunders n 8, D. White n 6, A. Lindsey n 6, P. Friendly n 4, E. Gallop – 2