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AHOSKIE – A shake-up in the starting lineup produced a spark for the Hertford County girls here Saturday night where the Lady Bears roared past rival Bertie, 56-24, in the third place game of the annual News-Herald Holiday Classic.

Three new faces appeared among the HCHS starters – Belle Wadsworth, Ariyonah Reynolds, and Kimayiah Johnson – and they all made their presence felt immediately. Meanwhile, Jameilya Lewis, a regular among the starting five, scored three baskets over the opening eight minutes to help lift the Lady Bears to a 13-5 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Despite a five-plus minute scoring drought from the field in the second quarter, Hertford County maintained that nine-point lead (20-11) thanks to a lone basket by Janiah Everette and combined free throws from Wadsworth, Johnson, and Karae’ Alfred. A steal and lay-up by Lewis with 2:11 left in the period ended Hertford County’s drought. Darianna Everette added a late basket that allowed the Lady Bears to build a 24-12 halftime lead.

The HCHS offense came to life in the third quarter where the Lady Bears connected on 9-of-19 shots from the field. Back-to-back steals and layups by Reynolds and Everette got things rolling.

A basket by Bertie’s Alexia Dickerson briefly interrupted the HCHS surge, but the Lady Bears answered with a 13-2 run fueled by baskets from Lewis, Everette, Johnson, Allenah Fleet, and Brooklynn White.

HCHS led 44-19 at the end of the third period.

Another big run of nine unanswered points more than sealed the win at the outset of the fourth quarter. There, Everette buried a three-pointer followed by two free throws and a bucket from Reynolds and a basket by Kendall Ashe.

Lady Bears (56)

Janiah Everette (14), Jameilya Lewis (10), Ariyonah Reynolds (7), Brooklynn White (6), Allenah Fleet (5), Kimayiah Johnson (4), Belle Wadsworth (4), Acasia Weaver (3), Darianna Everette (2), Karae’ Alfred (1).

Lady Falcons (24)

Armani Bridgett (7), Saliece Gould (6), Alexia Dickerson (5), Zynaeja Leary (3), Janayah Harvey (2), Azariah Hill (1).