The Polk County High School women’s basketball season ended with the Wolverines fighting back hard, but coming up short against East Burke, in the first round of state playoff action at Connelly Springs, on Monday evening, Feb. 24.
“We started really slowly,” said Wolverine Coach Craig Culbreth, “and got down really fast.”
The final score was 63-46.
The Wolverines (13-11) trailed 21-9 after the first quarter, and 35-18 at the half, but didn’t quit.
In the second half, Polk matched East Burke (19-4) point for point, outscoring the Cavaliers, 15-13 in the third period.
“We got down 18 points really fast,” said Culbreth. “We didn’t get a lot of good shots (early). They (the Cavaliers) shot well. We played (right) with them in the second half.”
East Burke is “a really good team, with good shooters,” said Culbreth. “We could have quit after being down,” he said, with obvious pride in his team’s desire to fight back.
Hayley Kropp and Sarah Phipps each scored 13 points for the Wolverines, with Kropp adding four steals and Phipps grabbing eight rebounds.
Teammates Savannah Ross and Janada Carson added six points apiece, with Carson and Ashley Kropp each taking six rebounds.
“It’s been a good year,” Culbreth reflected, “ (with) good moments. We played well at times.” They played well enough to enter the state playoffs.

by Mark Schmerling