AHOSKIE – Northampton County junior center Rashauna Grant notched her season-high with 24 points to lead all scorers here Friday night as Northampton County won their third game in a row against no losses, 51-34, at the expense of Hertford County.

A big 19-point second quarter offensive outburst helped propel the Lady Jaguars to victory, while their defense held the Lady Bears to just six points in that frame.

The first quarter was a tight one that featured three ties with neither team able to gain the advantage. Knotted at 2-2 and later 4-4, it ended in another stalemate 9-9 thanks to D.L. Watford for Hertford County and Grant for the Jags.

The separation came in the second frame as Saa’Naudia Deloatch exerted herself inside with a post-up field goal and making one-of-two free throws. Grant added three more with an old-fashioned three-point play and the Jags were starting to settle into a groove. They went on a 19-point run to stretch their lead to 28-9. Hertford County scored the final six points of the half, but found themselves looking up at Northampton 28-15 at halftime.

Hertford County opened the third quarter scoring six straight points and it looked like they might be working their way back into the game, getting the deficit down to seven points, 28-21.   But Deloatch and Grant’s inside game still was dominant and they pushed the lead back to double-figures before the Jags got the final two buckets of the period and were nursing a 15-point lead, 37-22, heading into the fourth quarter.

Hertford County’s Destiny Chavis, after being held to a single point through the first three quarters, suddenly came alive to lead a Hertford County late charge. After Northampton had pushed the lead to almost 20 points at 41-22, Chavis scored six straight and Howard added a free throw to leave the Bears trailing by a dozen at 41-29. But that was as close as the Bears would come the rest of the evening as they had no answer for Grant in the low post. Her put back late gave Northampton a 17-point lead, and even though the Bears cut into it, thanks to a pair of free throws and a lay-up from Jessica Weaver, it was still a 17-point margin when the final horn sounded, ending the contest and leaving the Bears still in search of their first win.

Hertford County will have a chance to break into the win column tonight (Tue.) when they welcome Gates County to their home court.

 

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY GIRLS   (51)

Rashauna Grant 24, Bryonna Woofter-9, Ny’Asia Kee-Daye-8, Saa’Naudia Deloatch-7, Ranajah Lane-3.

HERTFORD COUNTY GIRLS   (34)

Brianna Howard-9, Destiny Chavis-8, Jessica Weaver-7, D.L. Watford-3, Ashlee Weaver-3, Ashanti Bowser-2, Tia Thompson-2.