Three minutes into Polk County’s boys basketball clash with Landrum on Friday, the two teams had already been whistled for 12 fouls, a technical assessed to Landrum head coach Lyn Smith and a total of nine free throws shot.
The night got no better from there, especially for the Wolverines.
Landrum closed the first half with a 16-0 run and never slowed thereafter, pulling away for an 89-42 victory over Polk County at Landrum in the latest meeting between the two border rivals.
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Not to say that a more typical pattern of foul calls would have changed the outcome of the game, as Landrum (1-1) shot extremely well and enjoyed an edge on the boards all evening, often limiting Polk County (0-3) to a single shot on its possessions.
But the plethora of whistles did clearly affect the Wolverines, who could ill afford early foul trouble with four players already on the bench in street clothes due to injuries but found itself in just that situation. Polk County still stayed within striking distance of the Cardinals early in the second period, Jason Chupp’s layup at the 5:47 mark making it a 23-18 deficit. Landrum, though, would score seven points in the next 14 seconds, including five points in one sequence from Kevin Neal on a three-point play and ensuing technical foul that led to two free throws, and pull away to a 39-18 halftime lead.
The two teams were called for 36 fouls in the first half, with 24 free throws shot in the first quarter and 13 more in the second.
“A nightmare scenario,” said Polk County head coach Josh McEntire. “We don’t have any depth right now once we get into foul trouble. We played the whole second quarter with a guard, three centers and a forward on the court. Landrum played smart. They kept being aggressive and had enough bodies to keep running in there and take advantage of it. We didn’t.
“Still, in the end, if we block out and we make our free throws in the first half, we’re still in the neighborhood.”
The Wolverines finished the game 11-of-25 at the foul line, with Landrum going 22-of-36. Foster Bridges scored 21 points and Neal added 17 to pace Landrum. Jamal Wheeler had 17 points and Jaylin Wilkins added nine for Polk County.
The final foul tally stood at 47 as the teams, who meet again Tuesday at Polk County, played part of the third quarter and all of the fourth with a running clock.
Polk County Scoring
Jamal Wheeler 17, Jaylin Wilkins 9, Wes Mullis 8, Jason Chupp 5, Holden Owens 3
