Forget the fact it’s the holiday season – Polk Middle’s defense was not Monday afternoon in the giving mindset.
The Wolverines proved especially Scrooge-ish in the second half of their Blue Ridge Conference clash with Apple Valley, holding the Knights to just three points in the final two quarters to claim a 19-17 victory.
Polk’s second straight victory lifted the Wolverines to 2-2 overall and tied with Hendersonville Middle for the lead in the BRC’s East Division. Credit the Wolverines’ defensive effort Monday for that.
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Apple Valley (0-4) relied on its own point-stopping stinginess in the first half, holding Polk to a single basket in the second period while building a 14-6 halftime lead.
But Camdyn Isreal-Garrett connected on a jumper early in the third period and ignited a Wolverine surge. Kenzie Alm followed with a 3-pointer and Lucy Tessnair connected on a pair of baskets to give Polk a 15-14 lead late in the quarter. Apple Valley got its second quarter-ending buzzer beater basket of the game to take a 16-15 advantage into the final period.
After an early Alm basket returned the lead to Polk, Apple Valley evened the score at 17-17 with a free throw with 2:35 to go. The game remained deadlocked until Isreal-Garrett canned a jumper from the right wing with 1:30 remaining, that ultimately proving the game-winner.
Alm and Israel-Garrett each had seven points for Polk, with Tessnair adding four.
Polk Middle is back in action on Thursday, hosting Brevard Middle for a 4:30 p.m. tilt.
