Call it a young team that’s getting better each game. Call it, if you must, a rebuilding year.

The Wolverines aren’t quite there, as a very fine Mountain Heritage team defeated an aggressive Wolverine squad, 63-46, at Columbus on Friday, Dec. 18.

Polk is now 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the Western Highlands Conference. Mountain Heritage moved to 6-1 and 2-0, respectively.

Second quarters have not been kind to the Wolverines. Friday was no exception, as Polk managed just six points to the Cougars’ 21, erasing a one-point Wolverine lead after the first eight minutes.

In the second half, Mountain Heritage managed to add just three points to its lead, as the Wolverines shifted into overdrive against a Cougar defense that specialized in forcing turnovers.

Hayley Kropp led Polk with 22 points, with Autumn Owen (20) a close second.

Good defense and less-than-stellar shooting kept both teams off the scoreboard for the first two and one-half minutes of the game, until Owen, taking a pass from Kropp drove for two points. With quarter number one closing out, the Cougars’ led, 6-5, but Kropp sank a two-pointer from the baseline at the buzzer, to put Polk ahead, 7-6.

Deft hands helped the Cougars commit many steals from Polk, with the visitors’ Ciera Chandler especially effective in that department.  Missed foul shots also hurt Polk, but that changed in the third quarter.

Polk’s first score in that period came on Owen’s two-for-two at the line. Shortly after, Kropp was also two-for-two. Then, Kropp drove through a crowd for two points, drawing a foul, and making the shot. That closed the Cougar lead to 38-26. Kropp then made three of three from the line in a penalty situation, making it 38-29.

From Dec. 29 through 31, the Wolverines will compete in the Wells Fargo WNC Holiday Basketball Classic in Asheville.

On Jan. 5, Polk hosts WHC rival Avery.