AHOSKIE – The finals are the same as usual.

They barely were, however, as Gates County High School staged a second half comeback and came up just short against Hertford County High School.

The Lady Bears, however, held on for the 57-54 victory and advanced to the finals of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic sponsored by United Country Joe Murray Realty.

Hertford County held a comfortable nine-point lead (24-15) early in the third quarter, but Gates County rallied from that point to take a four-point lead by the end of the period.

Ashley Goodman got things started for Gates County with a hoop that was followed by a Vicki Wiggins bucket. Goodman’s free throw then trimmed the GCHS deficit to 24-20.

Jalisa Chinn hit a bucket to push the lead back to six (26-20), but a Denene Hayer free throw and hoops by Wiggins and Erica Bradley got the Red Barons within one (26-25).

Another Chinn free throw pushed the HCHS lead to two, but Gates County responded with consecutive hoops from Jessica Hart, Goodman and Wiggins to take a 31-27 advantage.

The two teams exchanged hoops to establish a 33-29 Gates County lead after three quarters.

The lead was three (38-35) early in the final period when Gates County went on a 6-0 run that gave them a nine-point advantage (44-35). Bradley scored all six points on the run, getting two hoops and two free throws.

The lead was extended to 12 (50-38) with 3:33 to play after a Wiggins free throw.

Hertford County rallied from that point, getting a hoop from Raqueta Moore and then free throws from Bardreda Williams and Amber Moore.

Briante Bond, who led Hertford County with 16 points, scored to get the Bears within five (50-45) with 2:09 to play.

Hertford County then got hoops from Raqueta Moore, Antoinette Lyles and Bond, who then added a free throw, to give HCHS a 52-50 lead with one minute to play.

After an exchange of free throws, the Lady Bears led with 57 seconds to play.

Amber Moore and Raqueta Moore each had free throws and then Raqueta Moore hit a hoop to give the Lady Bears a 57-51 lead.

Bradley, who led all scorers with 31 points, hit a triple to get within three, but that’s as close as they got.

Early in the contest, it was Hertford County who dominated, getting out to an 8-4 lead and holding a 10-7 advantage after one period.

Gates County edged ahead with four points from Bradley, but Hertford County scored the next seven points.

Lyles, Raqueta Moore and Bond each had hoops and Williams added a free throw to give the Lady Bears a 17-11 lead.

HCHS led 21-14 at the intermission.

The win put the Lady Bears into last night’s (Friday) championship game against Bertie. Northampton-East met Gates County in Thursday’s Consolation Game.

Lady Bears (57): Briante Bond n 16, Raqueta Moore n 13, Antoinette Lyles n 9, Jalisa Chinn n 7, Bardreda Williams n 5, Amber Moore n 4, Joya Hardy n 3

Lady Barons (54): Erica Bradley n 31, Vicki Wiggins n 10, Ashley Goodman n 9, Jessica Hart n 2, Jessica Jordan n 1, Denene Hayer – 1