AHOSKIE – Hertford County never trailed.

To think the varsity boys’ basketball team victory over rival Northeastern was easy, however would be a mistake. The Bears took an early lead and then held on to knock off the Eagles 50-45 at HCHS Tuesday night.

“I was pleased with the win,” Bears’ Coach Charles Simmons said. “We gave good effort tonight.”

The Bears only had two starters in double figures with Lamar Monger hitting for 16 points and Antonio Vaughan adding 11.

Hertford County started on a 6-2 run with a bucket from Marcus Burnell and two scores from Vaughan, but Northeastern didn’t allow the Bears to get too far away, trimming their deficit to 10-6 near the end of the quarter. Vaughan, however, buried a triple for the Bears to give HCHS a 13-6 lead after one quarter.

Donte White’s triple and a bucket by Terry Williams got the Eagles within two (13-11) early in the second quarter.

The two teams exchanged six-point runs to leave the Bears still ahead by one (19-18).

Hertford County then closed out the second quarter with a 5-0 spurt led by four points from Monger to give them a 24-18 halftime lead.

The third quarter saw the teams stay within a three-to-five point differential with the Bears holding a 36-31 advantage after the period came to an end.

The Eagles closed within three (42-39) midway through the fourth period, but Jamal Jones had a hoop and a free throw to push the Bears back in front 45-39.

Northeastern chipped away thanks to a pair of buckets late in the quarter, but Jones hit two late free throws to help the Bears preserve the win.

“We have to do a better job with our decision-making in transition and in our half-court sets,” Simmons said. “All conference wins are good.”

The Bears improved to 12-2 overall and 4-0 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference.

HCHS (50): Lamar Monger n 16, Antonio Vaughan n 11, Marcus Burnell n 9, Deshawn Outlaw n 6, Jamal Jones n 5, Jordan Jones n 3

Northeastern (45): Tyrie Brickhouse n 14, Donnie Hyder n 10, Donte White-

8, Allan Brothers n 4, Malone Silver n 3, DeMarco McNeill n 2, P.J. Etheridge n 2, Terry Williams – 2