When Polk County’s men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams host Owen on Friday, Feb. 5, they’ll have a chance to avenge losses at Western Highlands Conference rival Avery County last Friday, Jan. 29.

Wednesday evening, Polk is scheduled to host Brevard, a non-conference team. Women’s games are set to start at 6:30 p.m., with men’s to follow.

Last Friday, neither Avery squad rolled out the welcome mat for the Wolverines, or, maybe they did in a different way.

When one’s star player gets into foul trouble in the third quarter, that often spells trouble. That plagued the Wolverine women, when Hayley Kropp was charged with her fourth foul of the game, about halfway through the third quarter at Avery.

That slowed Polk, which trailed just 20-17 at the half. Avery took advantage, to defeat the Wolverines, 52-39.

The loss dropped Polk to 8-11 overall, and 3-6 in the WHC. The Vikings upped their records to 12-9 and 5-4.

Kropp still managed 24 points, and grabbed 11 rebounds, making seven steals. Ansley Lynch scored eight, and picked eight rebounds. Alana Seay (five points) and Bella Marino (two) rounded out Polk’s scoring.

On the men’s side, it was business as usual for Avery, as the Vikings topped the Wolverines, 83-53. The Vikings are thus far undefeated in Western Highlands Conference play this year, at 9-0. Overall, the win boosted their mark to 18-3. Polk dropped to 5-14 and 3-6.

Avery jumped to a 23-9 lead after the first quarter, led 43-20 at the half, and padded that lead after three periods. The never-quit Wolverines outscored their hosts, 22-19, in the final quarter.