Cougars check Wolverine comeback to take conference win

Mountain Heritage built a 22-point halftime lead and held off Polk County’s second-half rally for a 67-54 victory in Friday’s Western Highlands Conference boys basketball game in Burnsville.

The Cougars (3-3, 1-0) led 34-12 at halftime before the Wolverines opened the second half with an 8-0 run. Mountain Heritage stopped the rally and rebuilt its lead to 19 late in the third quarter.

Polk County (2-6, 0-2) rallied again in the fourth quarter, closing to within 10 points in the final two minutes.

Aaron Jackson led the Wolverines with 16 points while Khristian Littlejohn added 14. Nate Fagan scored eight, Khalil Austin finished with seven, Luke Garrison had four and Jesse Moore and Nolan Simpson each added two.

Polk County faces Cherokee on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Western Carolina University.