Madison used an 11-2 run to open the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 73-53 victory over Polk County in Thursday’s Western Highlands Conference boys basketball action at Polk.
The Patriots (10-11, 5-4 WHC) led 50-44 entering the final period after Polk County had rallied multiple times to stay within striking distance. But Madison’s decisive surge to start the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 61-46 and put the game out of reach.
Gavin Gault led Madison with 22 points.
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Polk County (3-18, 0-9 WHC) led 12-11 midway through the first quarter before Madison’s 9-0 run gave the Patriots a 20-12 advantage. Riley Allen, a 6-6 sophomore center, scored 10 points in the opening period to spark the Patriots to a 23-16 lead.
Madison pushed the lead to 30-20 early in the second quarter, but the Wolverines rallied. Blake Anderson and Chase Stansbury hit 3-pointers, and Aaron Jackson’s dunk with 2:33 left in the quarter cut the deficit to 31-30. Polk County trailed 36-34 before Madison’s Aedan Allison hit a long 3-pointer to make it 39-34 at halftime.
Stansbury opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer, but Gault led a Madison run that pushed the lead to 50-39. Anderson answered with a 3-pointer and a layup to slice the deficit to 50-44 entering the final quarter, setting the stage for Madison’s fourth-quarter surge.
Aaron Jackson led Polk County with 17 points. Khristian Littlejohn and Blake Anderson each added 10, Brady Carroll and Chase Stansbury each scored six, and Nate Fagan and Harris Windsor each finished with two.
Madison entered the game after taking conference co-leader Mountain Heritage to overtime before falling and losing to co-leader Hendersonville by eight points.
Polk County is scheduled to host Avery on Friday for another Western Highlands Conference game.
