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The North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 2022 basketball play-offs are underway and the opening round action on Tuesday saw Hertford County High School and Bertie High School collect opening round wins.

Hertford County’s girls, seeded second in the Class 2A Eastern bracket, routed #31 North Johnston, 72-33. Desiree Askew scored a game-high 31 points. Tamia Britt (15), Ashley Jenkins (12), and Brooklyn White (10) also scored in double figures for HCHS.

The Lady Bears (22-3 overall) will host #15 Fairmont (16-9) on Thursday in second round action.

Hertford County’s boys, seeded fifth in the Class 2A East, knocked off #28 James Kenan, 79-44, led by 25 points from Israel Powell and 10 points each by Jeremiah Benthall and William Valentine.

The Bears (19-6 overall) will host conference nemesis Northeastern (the #12 seed with a 19-5 overall record) in Thursday’s second round. HCHS and Northeastern tangled as recently as last week in the conference tournament semifinals where the Eagles prevailed, 73-68.

The Bertie High School girls, the top seed in the Class 1A Eastern bracket, routed #32 Cape Hatteras, 68-18, on Tuesday night. Yazmonasia Boone scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Lady Falcons. Bertie (18-4 overall) will host #17 Woods Charter School (12-6) on Thursday in second round play-off action.

The Bertie High School varsity boys, seeded 23^rd in the 32-team eastern Class 1-A bracket, pulled off a first-round upset on Tuesday, defeating #10 Chatham Central, 62-57. There were no stats listed for the game.

Bertie (9-14 overall) travels to #7 Pender County (12-10 overall) on Thursday.

Northampton County’s varsity girls, the #15 seed, won their Class 1A State play-offs opener, defeating #18 Oxford Prep, 43-27, behind a 24-point performance from Janaijah Grant. The Lady Jaguars (13-7 overall) travel to #2 seed Wilson Prep (21-0) for a second round game on Thursday.

Also in Tuesday’s opening round action for varsity boys, #32 Gates County fell at top-seeded Chatham Central, 63-40, and #14 Tarboro knocked off #19 Northampton, 66-60.