When Polk County’s Holden Owens sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to send last Friday’s game into overtime, the Wolverines were fighting for recognition. At that moment, Owen’s Warhorses were fighting for their lives, or at least for a second seed in the upcoming Western Highlands Conference playoffs.

Plying Owen nearly point-for-point most of the way, the Wolverines sent the game into a second overtime, before falling to Owen, 68-61, at Columbus. Polk is now 5-16 overall, and 3-8 in the WHC, while Owen raised its mark to 14-9, and 9-3, respectively.

“We gutted it out, and played our butts off,” accurately reported Polk Head Coach Josh McEntire after the game.

“They got all the breaks,” he added. Near the end of regulation time, Polk’s Jamal Wheeler, who’d scored 23 points and snared 13 rebounds, and Dillon Overholt had fouled out, leaving it to their teammates to step it up. They did so, admirably.

McEntire praised Wes Mullis, noting, “He and Davis (Derkach) fought great tonight.” Mullis, Derkach, Wheeler and Daniel Painter, all seniors, were honored as such at the game’s Senior Night ceremony.

One reason the game was so close through the 40 minutes of play, was, as McEntire noted, “We played a week ago. We know each other’s secrets.” That earlier game also ended in an Owen overtime win.

Regarding the Wolverines’ WHC competition, McEntire added, “Except for Avery (11-0 in the conference), we match up well against everyone.”

Polk tied the score at 61, where it stood after one O/T period, but Owen held firm in the second four-minute O/T, to put the game away.

With Owen ahead, 56-55 and 17 seconds left in regulation, a Warhorse player sank a two-pointer to put Owen up, 58-55. The Warhorses didn’t count on Polk’s Owen, whose three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Wolverines life.

In a game that featured two teams who knew each other well, it was fitting that the score was 12-12 after one quarter, and 22-21 at the half, with Polk a nose ahead. Owen scratched out a 37-36 advantage after three periods.

Conference playoff seeding announcements are expected by mid-week. Conference tournament play is set for Feb. 15 through 19, with the location to be announced.

This Tuesday evening, the Wolverines visit WHC rival Hendersonville, where the Bearcats are 7-13 overall, and also 3-8 in the conference.