AHOSKIE – Whew!

It’s finally over.

Hertford County’s Lady Bears got the proverbial monkey off their back here Saturday night.

For the first time, the Lady Bears knocked off Rocky Mount High School, winning the non-league affair 48-45.

&uot;I feel like the weight has been lifted off our shoulders,&uot; sixth-year HCHS skipper Joan McCullough said. &uot;This is the first time we have ever beaten Rocky Mount. Actually, this is the first time we haven’t been blown out by Rocky Mount.

&uot;Solid tem play, discipline and belief in ourselves won this game for us,&uot; she added. &uot;I am truly proud of our girls.&uot;

The Lady Bears (4-7) are now 3-1 in their last four outings, and continue to improve each time they step of the floor.

Chiquitta Holloman again had the hot hand for HCHS, scoring a game-high 19 points. Holloman has scored 44 points, grabbed 33 rebounds and recorded 18 blocked shots in the past two games.

The contest was a close one throughout the game with the score deadlocked at 40-all with 4:27 to play.

Jamie Britt put the Lady Bears ahead when she hit both ends of a one-plus-one with 3:51 to play, but Rocky Mount responded with a three-pointer off the hands of Jennie Pittman.

Britt then hit another free throw before Kenya Cofield buried a triple to give HCHS a 46-43 lead with 2:47 to play.

Rocky Mount got within one on a bucket from Stephanie Allen, but Holloman hit both of her free throws with 11 seconds to play to seal the victory.

The entire contest was a close one with Hertford County holding an 11-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter and leading 26-20 at the intermission.

Hertford County held the same six-point advantage (38-32) at the end of the third quarter.

In addition to Holloman’s hot hand, Cofield put together a 14-point performance while five other Lady Bears got on the scoreboard as well.

Hertford County travels to Pasquotank tonight for a key Northeastern Coastal Conference contest before going to archrival Bertie on Friday.

Lady Bears (48): Chiquitta Holloman – 19, Kenya Cofield – 14, J. Britt – 6, J. Wilder – 3, A. Fountain – 2, A. Weaver – 2, L. Robinson – 2

Lady Gryphons (45): Jennie Pittman – 17, A. Melton – 9, B. Pulley – 9, S. Allen – 6, D. Whitehead – 2, D. Battle – 2