Gates County is 2-7 against Hertford County since December of 2014 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Gates County Red Barons will be home for the holidays to greet the Hertford County Bears at 6:00 p.m. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Gates County waltzed into their contest Tuesday with two straight wins but they left with three. They came out on top against Holmes by a score of 53-43.
Gates County found their leader in underclassman Semiyah Saunders, who dropped a double-double on 14 points and 18 rebounds. Those 18 rebounds set a new season-high mark for her. Another player making a difference was Semayia Cross, who scored 13 points.
Meanwhile, Hertford County was able to grind out a solid victory over Washington on Monday, taking the game 50-41.
Hertford County's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Brooklynn White, who scored 19 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points White has scored all season. The team also got some help courtesy of Jaliyah Mitchell, who dropped a double-double on 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Gates County pushed their record up to 5-1 with that win, which was their third straight on the road. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 54.7 points per game. As for Hertford County, their win ended a three-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 1-2.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Gates County have been smashing the glass this season, having only averaged 41.5 rebounds per game. It's a different story for Hertford County, though, as they've been averaging only 23.7 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Gates County lost to Hertford County at home by a decisive 53-36 margin in their previous matchup back in December of 2022. Will Gates County have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
