Lady Falcons fall prey to Bears
Published 9:31 am Monday, January 22, 2024
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By ANDRE ALFRED
Sports Correspondent
AHOSKIE – Rivalry games provide a sense of oneness within respective communities. The years have come and passed, but the Bertie County versus Hertford County match-up continues its legacy to this day.
Hertford County’s Jaliyah Mitchell glides past Bertie’s Kydra Brown with a left handed layup during Saturday’s 57-44 win by the Lady Bears. A.A. Imaging / Andre Alfred
This go around would be the Lady Bears that would be seated on the bragging rights throne as they handed the Lady Falcons a 57-44 setback in this non-conference clash on Saturday at the HCHS gym.
Both teams came off conference games the night before (Friday, Jan. 19). Thusly, both teams had seen little rest as they suited up for this Saturday’s colossal clash.
The Bears jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first 45 seconds of the first quarter with a two-pointer paired with a trey ball by senior point guard Jaliyah Mitchell. Mitchell wreaked havoc on the Falcons both defensively and offensively.
Bertie was unable to gather itself as the first quarter ended in a blink of and eye with the Bears ahead 15-9.
HCHS opened the second quarter with a trifecta from Gabrielle Joyner, increasing the Lady Bears lead to nine points (18-9). Collective points generated by Bertie’s Armani Bridgette, Kydra Brown, Rakiyah Peele and Zynaeja Leary shrunk the Bears lead and pulled the Falcons within five points, ending the first half with the Falcons still trailing, 29-24.
In less than 30 seconds, Alexia Dickerson opened the third quarter with power move in the paint, giving the Falcons the first score of the period. But that would be the last basket Bertie would see for the next four minutes.
Hertford County’s antagonizing defensive locked Bertie in the backcourt, which forced the Falcons to commit turnovers. Those mistakes were then converted to points by the Bears.
Finally, Bertie was able to get past half court and began manufacturing points as the third quarter continued ticking away. At quarter’s end things were looking grim for the Lady Falcons as they fell behind in double digits, 49-34.
The fourth quarter was a short story. Bertie outscored the Bears 10-8, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome their deficit.
The Bears maintain first place in the 2A/3A Northeastern Coastal Conference. The Falcons are in third place in the 1A Four Rivers Conference.