A second half full of back-and-forth action Friday night tipped Hendersonville’s way when Polk County could least afford it to do so.
The Bearcats closed the latest showdown between the two Western Highlands Conference rivals with a 10-1 run, ekeing out a 75-70 victory over the Wolverines before a nearly-packed gym at Polk.
Polk County (3-12, 1-4) suffered its ninth straight defeat, but put together what head coach Josh McEntire called the team’s best effort of the season in nearly snapping that streak.
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Polk built a six-point lead early in the third period, but Hendersonville (5-9, 2-4) quickly tied the score and neither team led by more than four points the rest of the half until the final seconds. There were four lead changes in the final five minutes of the game.
The Wolverines had the third of those four with 2:54 remaining, taking a 66-65 lead on a Wes Mullis basket. Daniel Painter buried a 3-pointer with 2:24 left to give Polk a 69-65 lead and momentum, but that would the Wolverines’ final field goal.
Hendersonville finally tied the game at 70-70 with 1:07 left as sophomore Qushawn Brown drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing. Polk County failed to score on its next possession, and the Bearcats prepared to hold the ball for the final shot.
But a foul call with 20 seconds left – along with a technical foul on Polk County for a uniform violation – gave Hendersonville’s Tykel Landrum four free throws. He hit two for a 72-70 lead, and Brown added another with 15 seconds left for a 73-70 margin.
The Wolverines then missed three straight shots on their next possession, including a 3-point attempt by Painter that came ever so close to going in. Landrum added two free throws with two seconds left for the final margin.
“I’m really proud of our effort. That’s probably the best four quarters of effort we’ve had all year,” McEntire said. “Give Hendersonville credit. They made big plays when it counted. We’re up three, and the kid takes a fadeaway three and makes it. That’s a big shot.
“We’re in good shape at the end and they have to make a play and we do a silly foul and then do another silly thing. We just have to keep our composure at the end.”
Four trouble played a key role in the closing minutes. Four Wolverines fouled out in the fourth quarter, including the team’s three key interior players, Davis Derkach, Jaymes Wingo and Mullis.
“Our three main big guys all fouled out. That meant we had to play with five guards and a funky lineup,” McEntire said. “But they made big shots and we missed shots. We each had chances at the end and they made shots and we didn’t. Give them credit.
“I’m really proud of this effort. If we can build off that the rest of the season we’ll be all right.”
Brown finished with 22 points for Hendersonville, which played without second-leading scorer Michael Schmidt. Landrum added 19 points. Jamal Wheeler had 18 points to lead Polk County, with Mullis scoring 15 points with seben rebounds. Dillion Overholt added 14, Painter and Wingo each had nine points and Holden Owens had five for the Wolverines, who host Madison on Tuesday in another WHC clash.
