The Polk County (Benton, TN) varsity basketball team will host Nantahala (Topton, NC) for a non-conference game on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 6:00 PM.

Here’s what you need to Basketball know:

What: Tennessee High School Basketball
Who: Polk County vs Nantahala
When: Friday, December 20, 2024
Time: 6:00. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Nantahala vs. Polk County: A Comparative Overview of Varsity Basketball

The upcoming varsity basketball game between the Nantahala (Topton, NC) and Polk County (Benton, TN) teams on December 20 promises to be a thrilling matchup. With both teams bringing unique strengths to the court, fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome. Let’s take a deeper look at how these two teams measure up against each other, their recent performances, and key statistics heading into the game.

Current Records and Performance Breakdown

Nantahala (24-25)

• Overall Record: 4-2
• Conference Record: 1-0
• Home Record: 3-1
• Away Record: 1-1
• Points For (PF): 425
• Points Against (PA): 413
• Winning Percentage: .667 (Overall), 1.000 (Conference)

Polk County (24-25)

• Overall Record: 3-3
• District Record: 0-2
• Home Record: 1-1
• Away Record: 2-2
• Points For (PF): 434
• Points Against (PA): 384
• Winning Percentage: .500 (Overall), .000 (District)

Nantahala enters the game with a slightly better overall record and has shown dominance in conference play with a perfect 1.000 win percentage. They’ve scored 425 points so far and have a narrow margin of 12 points in their overall point differential. Polk County, meanwhile, is coming off a mixed record, struggling in district play but boasting an impressive away record with a 2-2 mark. Their offense has been potent, scoring 434 points across their games, although they still face challenges in keeping opponents from scoring.

Scoring Averages

The teams have shown contrasting offensive performances, with Nantahala averaging 70.8 points per game compared to Polk County’s slightly higher 72.3 points per game. Here’s how they break down across quarters:

• Nantahala:
  • Q1: 12.0
  • Q2: 16.0
  • Q3: 17.0
  • Q4: 22.0
  • Final: 70.8
• Polk County:
  • Q1: 25.5
  • Q2: 25.5
  • Q3: 18.5
  • Q4: 18.5
  • Final: 72.3

Polk County appears to start strong, particularly in the first half, with a noticeable dip in the second half. Nantahala, however, shows a more balanced scoring distribution, consistently improving in the second half, especially in the final quarter.

Team Stat Comparison

• Nantahala
  • Points Per Game: 43.4
  • Rebounds Per Game: 22.0
  • Assists Per Game: 8.4
  • Steals Per Game: 7.4
  • Blocks Per Game: 0.8
• Polk County
  • Points Per Game: 72.3
  • Rebounds Per Game: –
  • Assists Per Game: –
  • Steals Per Game: –
  • Blocks Per Game: –

While the individual stats for Polk County are not fully available, Nantahala’s defense stands out, particularly in their ability to create turnovers with 7.4 steals per game. This could be a pivotal factor in their upcoming game against Polk County, whose offense has been a little more potent.

Key Players to Watch

• Nantahala:
  • Cole McCoy: Averaging 26.7 points per game, McCoy is the primary scoring threat for Nantahala and will be a crucial factor in their offensive strategy.
  • Landon Neal: With 8.3 rebounds per game, Neal provides a strong presence in the paint.
  • Fernando Trejo: Leading the team with 4.3 assists per game, Trejo’s playmaking will be key to setting up opportunities for his teammates.
• Polk County:
  • Polk County’s key players were not listed in the provided data, but any individual who can match Nantahala’s offensive efficiency will be key to their success.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced common opponents, but with different results:

• Nantahala vs. Copper Basin (11/19/24): Lost 71-67
• Polk County vs. Copper Basin (12/5/24): Won 85-34

Nantahala struggled against Copper Basin, while Polk County came out on top in a dominant victory. This could give Polk County a psychological edge heading into the game against Nantahala, especially with their recent strong performance.

Head-to-Head and Record Breakdown

While the teams have no previous head-to-head matchups, they’ve both seen success in different areas of competition. Nantahala has shown better consistency at home and in their league, while Polk County excels on the road.

• Nantahala
  • 3-1 at home
  • 1-1 away
• Polk County
  • 1-1 at home
  • 2-2 away

Game Preview

The matchup between Nantahala and Polk County is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive game. Nantahala’s strong start to the season and their balance in scoring, alongside standout players like Cole McCoy and Landon Neal, put them in a good position. However, Polk County’s ability to dominate early and their solid away record could make them formidable opponents. The game will be decided by which team can execute their strengths—Nantahala’s defense and scoring balance or Polk County’s explosive early-game offense.

Both teams are eager to build on their momentum, and the final outcome will be crucial for their confidence heading into the second half of the season. Basketball fans will want to tune in on December 20th at 6 p.m. to see how this cross-state battle unfolds.