Senior Night didn’t end Thursday as Polk County would have preferred, Mitchell ending the evening with a 66-52 Western Highlands Conference victory.
But for one breathtaking stretch in the third quarter, the Wolverines made it look like anything was possible.
Trailing 31-15 at halftime, Polk opened the third quarter with a stunning run that turned a 16-point deficit into a one-point game – the kind of comeback that had the Wolverine faithful on its feet and the seniors who sparked it playing some of their best basketball of the season.
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Chase Stansbury opened the third period with a 3-pointer to make it 31-18. Mitchell’s Riley Silver answered with a layup, but Curtis Simmons hit a 3-pointer from the right wing. Aaron Jackson scored on a layup in transition, then converted two free throws. Stansbury buried another 3-pointer from the left wing, Khristian Littlejohn added a layup and Jackson scored again at the 4:16 mark to pull Polk within one, 33-32.
All five seniors on the floor – Littlejohn, Simmons, Jackson, Stansbury and Nolan Simpson – contributed to the 14-0 run, grabbing rebounds, forcing turnovers, converting baskets.
But the Wolverines never could get over the hump. Mitchell’s Asa Peterson drove for a layup and drew a foul at 3:22, converted the free throw to make it 36-32, then stole the ball and scored again to push the lead to 38-32. The Mountaineers_(8-12, 4-8) closed the third quarter with a 9-2 run, then rebuilt their advantage to 57-36 with 6:10 remaining.
Polk County (3-20, 0-11) made one final push, rallying to within 11 points at 58-47 with 1:59 remaining, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Jackson led the Wolverines with 21 points. Stansbury added 11, Austin and Littlejohn each scored six, Simmons finished with five, Simpson had two and Fagan added one. Fagan’s point was the only one that didn’t come from a senior.
Prior to the game, seniors Austin, Blake Anderson and Thomas Varnadore were recognized alongside Littlejohn, Simmons, Jackson, Stansbury and Simpson.
Polk County closes the regular season Monday at home against Avery.
