Cardinals clamp down on Wolverines in 85-55 victory

There were bright spots to be found Tuesday for Polk County’s boys basketball team. Just not enough of them.

Landrum scored the first 10 points of the second period, building a 22-point lead and survived a brief Wolverine rally en route to an 85-55 victory over Polk County in a non-conference clash in Landrum.

The Cardinals (1-0) led 22-10 at the end of the first quarter, but held Polk County scoreless for the first 5:18 of the second period in building their 32-10 advantage. Holden Owens finally snapped the scoreless spell with a pair of free throws at the 2:42 mark.

The Wolverines then turned a pair of turnovers into points, getting layups from Dillon Overholt and Javen Mings to cut the deficit to 32-16. After a Tre Smith basket, Amir Gary drilled a 3-pointer to pull the Wolverines within 15 at 34-19 with 1:39 left in the first half.

But that would be as close as Polk County (0-2) would get, Landrum taking a 39-21 advantage at halftime and quickly building upon that lead in the third quarter to squelch any comeback hopes held by the Wolverines.

Gary hit 5 3-pointers, four of those in the fourth period, and finished with 15 points to lead Polk County, with Jaymes Wingo and Overholt each adding 12. Jack Derkach added four points, Mings had three, Clark Phipps, David Horton and Owens each had two and Rustin Muse had a point for the Wolverines.

Polk County returns to action on Friday, traveling to Brevard for another non-conference game.

– Submitted by PolkSports.com