AHOSKIE – Hertford County led almost wire-to-wire, and despite three ties, the Bears were able to easily subdue Pasquotank County here Friday night, 64-33.

Talik Totten led a trio of Bear players in double-figures with 19 points, collecting a dozen points in the first half and only hitting one three-pointer. Zion Riddick, who seems to have re-captured his scoring touch, added 12 more, while Michale Cooper had 10. No Pasquotank players scored in double-figures.

The win helped the Bears (10-8, 5-1, NCC) remain in second place and within a game and a half of first-place Northeastern.

Lance Hunter opened the game getting fouled on a hard drive to the basket. He made the free throw for a three-point play and the Bears were off from there. The Panthers took their only lead, 7-6, on Talib Eason’s baseline jump shot, and though Pasquotank tied the game three more times in the first quarter (9-9, 11-11, and 13-13), they never led again.

Coming out of the quarter break, the Bears scored eight in a row and began to open up the game thanks to Riddick and Totten taking command. Totten finally buried a three-pointer to put the Bears up by nine. After the Panthers pulled within six, 24-18, Hertford County reeled off seven of the next nine points for a 34-20 lead at halftime.

Totten got his only other triple of the game opening the second half, sparking an 11-0 Bear run that gave the home team a 25-point lead, 45-20. Pasquotank finally got a lay-up in the paint to break the Bear string, but Hertford County would end the third quarter on an 8-5 run and the lead was 26 points, 53-27.

Coach Charles Simmons cleared his bench in the second half and the reserves responded, scoring 21 points. The non-starters actually doubled-up the score when Zach Wise nailed a step-back three-pointer that made it 64-31. The Panthers got one more field goal and only fell by 31 at the end.

Hertford County climbed two games over the .500 mark with a Saturday win, 74-68, over Portsmouth (VA) Woodrow Wilson at the Kings Fork Showcase in Suffolk (VA). They will return to conference play hosting Currituck County tonight (Tue.).

PASQUOTANK BOYS (33)

Chris Hinmon-6, Shemar Beasley-6, Javon Crutch-5, Vershawn Ealy-5, Kylek Williams-5, Zavion Jones-4, Talib Eason-2.

HERTFORD COUNTY BOYS (64)

Talik Totten-19, Zion Riddick-12, Michale Cooper-10, Lance Hunter-6, Zach Wise-5, Latrell Harrington-4, Jamari Lassiter-3, Justin Futrell-3, Delmonta Cherry-2.