Polk vs. Avery

After the easy win over Thomas Jefferson Tuesday night Polk came to an unusual Wednesday night contest against Avery (rescheduled due to weather) with a record of 5-6. Thus this was a pivotal game as the schedule winds down. Avery is tied with Mountain Heritage for the conference lead at 10-1, so the Lady Wolverines had their work cut out for them.

Polk County almost scored a major win leading 21-20 at halftime, but Avery started hitting its 3-pointers in the second half, going on a 25-14 tear in the final period to win 55-42.

“We played tough the first half and stayed right with them and then they started pressing us and we made a lot of turn overs,” said PCHS Coach Craig Culbreth. “We usually handle a press pretty well. They (Avery) are such a good 3-point shooting team, you leave them open and they hit them. They had five 3-pointers.”

Polk especially had trouble with Kelsie Clark late in the game.

“We held her to 6 points for the first three quarters and then she had 13 in the fourth,” Culbreth said.

For Polk (11-11, 5-7), Kara Overholt was the only player in double digits with 12 points. Clarke led Avery (17-5, 11-1) with 19 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter. Avery’s Lauren Burleson, who hit two 3-pointers in the fourth, finished with 14 points overall.

The Lady Wolverines play at Owen Friday in a game that will have major playoff implications.