Western Highlands Conference alters tourney plans, Polk girls to host opener

Western Highlands Conference officials decided Monday to alter the postseason basketball tournament format, moving all first-round games to Tuesday and letting higher seeds host first-round games.

With winter weather forcing the Polk County-Owen and Hendersonville-Avery games to be completed Monday, the start of the WHC tournament had to be delayed until Tuesday. A North Carolina High School Athletic Association ruling for all schools, allowing teams to play a maximum of four games this week instead of the usual three, also made it possible to play the tournament in full.

Tournament officials originally planned to play the tournament at Hendersonville High School over four straight nights, beginning Tuesday. Now, all first-round games will be held Tuesday, with just the semifinals and finals held Thursday and Friday at Hendersonville.

Assured of being the fourth seed in the girls bracket, Polk County will host Owen on Tuesday at 6 p.m., meaning the two teams will play back-to-back nights.

Polk County’s boys, meanwhile, will be on the road. If Owen defeats Polk County Monday night, then the Wolverines would go back to Owen on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game. If Polk County wins Monday night, then the Wolverines would go to Mountain Heritage, also for a 6 p.m. game as Mountain Heritage’s girls team will have a bye.

With both Monday games affecting pairings, the full WHC tourney schedule won’t be officially set until Tuesday morning.