Polk finds a way to victory in nipping Cherokee

Winning ugly, as Polk County boys basketball coach Josh McEntire called it, never looked so good for the Wolverines.

Down five points with two minutes remaining, Polk County fought back Tuesday night to take a 71-69 win over Cherokee, the Wolverines earning their first victory of the season in the non-conference home game.

Jaymes Wingo’s basket with 38 seconds remaining lifted Polk County to a 70-69 lead and proved the game-winner. Jamal Wheeler added a free throw with 6.8 seconds remaining, Cherokee missed a pair of free throws with two seconds left, albeit the last one intentionally, and the Wolverines were able to exhale and celebrate before an enthused home crowd.

“We just kept fighting,” McEntire said. “That’s how we’re going to win games this year. Winning ugly.”

Senior standout Jamal Wheeler scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Polk County, but the Wolverines got key contributions throughout the lineup:

– With Polk trailing by 15 in the second quarter, Brandon Bacher came off the bench and hit a pair of 3-pointers to help start the Wolverine comeback. “Brandon Bacher knocked down two huge threes to help get us back in the game,” McEntire said. “We’ve been telling the kids that you never know when it’s going to be your time. It was his time.”

– Sophomore Holden Owens drilled back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth period, then delivered two key defensive plays in the final minute. With Cherokee leading 69-67, the Braves rebounded a Polk missed shot, but Owens stole the outlet pass and drew a foul. He hit one of two free throws to cut Cherokee’s lead to one. In the moments after Wingo’s basket, Owens then rebounded a Cherokee miss on the other end. “He’s a great shooter, and he’s been knocking those down in practice,” McEntire said. “He stepped up and knocked down two huge threes for us.”

– Following Owens’ missed free throw with 58 seconds left, Wingo grabbed an offensive rebound to retain possession for Polk, then hit a short jumper in the lane with 38 seconds left to give Polk the lead. “He’s our best offensive rebounder,” McEntire said.

Wes Mullis had 14 points and a team-high 15 rebounds and Owens had nine for the Wolverines, who never led until Wheeler hit a 3-pointer with 4:57 left in the third period for a 40-39 advantage. Cherokee rallied and took a 51-49 lead into the fourth quarter before Owens’ outside shooting gave Polk a 57-53 edge with 6:32 remaining.

With fans from both sides on their feet, Cherokee regained the lead at the 4:30 mark, then reeled off seven straight points moments later to take a 69-64 edge with 2:17 remaining.

Free-throw shooting wasn’t a strength for either team, and the Braves missed two free throws and a chance to widen the lead with 1:39 left. Wheeler hit two foul shots at the 1:18 mark to cut the deficit to three, then stole the inbounds pass and drew a foul on a 3-point attempt. He hit one of those three free-throw attempts to make it 69-67, setting the stage for Owens’ steal and the wild final minute.

Cherokee finished 12-of-29 at the foul line while Polk was 16-of-31.