In spite of Polk’s two losses last week to conference rivals, Brandy Alm, the Wolverines’ varsity women’s head basketball coach, said her team will be ready when it counts most.

Polk added a resounding win on Friday night, Jan. 23.

Polk finished off a busy (or call it grueling) week by destroying a West Henderson team that was missing its star player, Taylor Houck, to the flu. The way the Wolverines cruised to a 51-19 non-conference win, Houck’s presence might not have changed the outcome.

Against West, Polk employed a solid formula. They held the Falcons outside, where their guests obliged by missing a high portion of their shots, while they, the Wolverines, peppered the net, with Kara Overholt pouring in three threes, in a short span.

Overholt led all scores with 18 points, adding four assists. Teammate Hayley Kropp netted 13, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out four assists, and plucking six steals.  Sarah Phipps scored eight, pulling down 11 rebounds. Ashley Kropp scored four, picking five steals. Freshman Autumn Owen scored five.

Polk began the game with a deliberate approach, with Phipps putting one in from under the net. With about 2:30 remaining in the first quarter, Polk led, 13-0, when the Falcons found the net, making it 13-2.

After eight minutes, the Wolverines enjoyed a 16-4 lead. With the score 17-10, the Wolverines once again played for a good shot. When Overholt got the ball she must have sensed the right feel as her shot from near the baseline swished in for three.

Next time Polk got the ball, Overholt hit another three to put the Wolverines up, 23-10. Moments later, Overholt hit yet another three to give Polk a 31-12 lead.

With intense defensive pressure from the Wolverines, the Falcons were forced to play for a deliberate shot. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t have that right feeling.

Polk led 35-12 at the half, and held West to a total of seven second-half points for the 51-19 final.

Even with her team’s balanced effort, Alm highlighted the Kropp sisters, noting, “They’ve got the ‘hustle gene.’” If so, it’s a team-wide characteristic, one that will help the Wolverines in post-season competition.

Last Thursday (Jan. 22), Mountain Heritage came to Columbus and though the Wolverines battled hard and made a good game of it, the Cougars (now 16-0 overall, and 8-0 in the WHC) emerged with a 67-57 win.

That game was originally slated for Jan. 23, with the game against West Henderson set for Jan. 21, but prospects of icy roads, especially at higher elevations Friday night resulted in school officials re-scheduling to help insure team and fan safety.

Polk hung with the Mountain Heritage through the first period (which ended at 9-9), but the Cougars led, 30-16, at the half.  In the second half, Polk chipped away, outscoring the Cougars 21-19 and 20-18 in the last two quarters, respectively, but they couldn’t overtake their visitors. Each time Polk closed the lead to nine or ten points, the Cougars opened their lead.

Hayley Kropp scored 19 for Polk, with Autumn Owen adding 10.

After the game, Alm praised her team’s effort against a very difficult foe, and noted the team’s chemistry.

“I think we’ll peak at the right time,” Alm said after Mountain Heritage defeated the Wolverines. “We gave so much effort. Our chemistry’s there.”

On Tuesday evening (Jan. 27), the Wolverines will visit Mitchell’s Mountaineers, who were 0-6 in WHC competition going into Friday’s game against Owen.

On Wednesday (Jan. 28), the Wolverines visit East Henderson, for a non-conference game. The next home game is set against WHC rival Avery, on Feb. 4.