Christmas lights will shine a bit brighter this holiday season for Polk County Middle’s boys basketball team.
After a rough first half of their 2025-26 campaign, the Wolverines wanted no gift more Thursday than a victory to kick off the second half of their slate. That Polk Middle did receive, battling to a 44-40 overtime victory over visiting Lake Lure Classical.
The Raptors grabbed a 40-39 lead early in the three-minute extra session, but never scored again as Polk Middle’s defense shut down Lake Lure’s solid perimeter play.
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Carter Cash, meanwhile, drilled a 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining to put the Wolverines ahead, and Austin Love’s putback with 49 seconds remainign ensured Polk Middle could celebrate moments later.
“I think that shows you what sports and competing is really about,” said Polk Middle head coach Lucas Cash. “I don’t think the record speaks truly about these boys. They’re better than what their record shows.
“Winning is not going to come easy for the rest of the season. But like I told them, the first win is always the hardest. Don’t be satisified. Let’s get our second goal, which is the second win of the season.”
Polk Middle (1-8) built a nine-point lead with 2:11 remaining in the first half. But Lake Lure’s guard trio of Andrew Carpenter, Chaden Whiteside and Julian Carpenter were outstanding all evening, and that group helped the Raptors close the half with a 9-2 run, Andrew Carpenter drilling one of his four 3-pointers at the buzzer to make it a 22-20 Polk lead at the half.
Lake Lure moved ahead late in the third period and took a 35-31 advantage early in the final quarter. Austin Love connected on a baseline jumper, Matthew Sokil added a free throw and Cash swished a 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining to return the Wolverines to the front, up 37-35.
Andrew Carpenter answered with a three, but Sokil responded with a layup with 1:22 remaining. Whiteside’s free throw with 26 seconds left evened the score and set the stage for overtime.
Sokil had 15 points and Cash had 11 to lead Polk Middle. Love added seven, with Peyton Waters scoring four and Owen Justice adding three. Mason Proctor tallied two points for Polk.
Andrew Carpenter had 14 points, Whiteside added 12 and Julian Carpenter finished with 10, the trio combining to hit eight 3-pointers.
The two teams meet again January 6 in Lake Lure.
