Two words describing the action between Landrum and Polk County in women’s basketball this season would be ‘Don’t miss.’ Two words describing this season’s Wolverines might be ‘young’ and ‘improving.’

Those young and constantly improving Wolverines hung with Landrum’s Cardinals on Friday night, edging Landrum, 45-43, at Columbus.

The Wolverines outscored the Cardinals, 17-6, in the first quarter, en route to a 26-19 halftime advantage, but the Cardinals locked the score at 31 after three quarters.

Fittingly for a rivalry game of this intensity, fans on both sides of the court reacted loudly to a basket by their team, or a call they felt was less than fair.

Polk, which lost to Brevard, 50-39, on Thursday, is 2-2 overall. The Cardinals are 1-2 after defeating Pickens, and losing to West Oak.

For Polk’s Hayley Kropp it was just another day at the office, where she sank 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and made five steals. Teammate Autumn Owen added nine rebounds, while Bella Marino scored eight. Marino’s two quick two-pointers in the first quarter helped the Wolverines build their lead.

The contest got off to a fiery start, as Landrum stole, mostly courtesy of Ciara Sikes, swiped the ball multiple times to build a 6-2 lead. Kropp’s own steal and follow-through layup tied the score at six.

The third quarter featured hasty shooting and great defense by both teams, but the Cardinals made more of their shots, to tie the score. Kropp opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to put Polk ahead, 34-31. Kayleey Huntley was fouled making a two-point goal, and sank her one foul shot to put Landrum up, 38-35. And back and forth it went. Kropp’s four points from the stripe late in the game helped seal the Wolverines’ win.

Wolverine head coach Brandy Alm noted that her team “had to kind of play out of our element” because of early foul trouble. But, she added, “We scored. We were patient on offense, and on defense, played zones, to help stay out of more serious foul trouble.”

Kropp, Alm noted, “played in foul trouble for most of the game.” She also observed, “We improved, as always.”

On Dec. 18, the Cardinals visit Pendleton for a conference game.

This Tuesday evening, the Wolverines will visit East Henderson. Conference games arrive big time, when Polk visits Madison on Friday, Dec. 11, visits Mitchell on Dec. 15, and is back home against Mountain Heritage on Dec. 18.