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By Jed Blackwell

 

The run that cemented Polk County’s first-round playoff win over Piedmont Community Charter on Tuesday night was stunning and sudden.

Kylie Lewis made a bucket. Bailey Staton hit a 3-pointer. Kiera Littlejohn scored inside. The Wolverines just did what they normally do, and those small things led to a big run, keying a 20-4 spurt that spanned the second quarter and all but put the game away as Polk County took a 56-25 win.

The victory improved the Wolverines’ record to 23-1, those wins matching a school record for most in a season. Polk will host Avery in Friday night’s second round with a chance to set a new standard.

Despite the lopsided score, Polk County coach Brandy Alm said the Wolverines have a lot to work on for round two.

“We played hard,” Alm said. “We didn’t execute the way I wanted. We were patient like I wanted us to be. We couldn’t get in a groove, we couldn’t get in a rhythm. It was just one of those nights.”

That it was close at all after the first quarter was a minor miracle. The Wolverines had six of their 16 steals in the opening frame. They blocked two shots in the period, on the way to six in the game. Mia Bradley took a charge. Defensively, they did just about everything right.

They led 6-3 at the quarter break.

That was due in part to a trapping, scrambling zone defense from the Patriots (12-11) that was making life a little bit miserable for the Wolverines, along with a cold shooting touch that saw them struggling to make anything early on.

“We were making great drives to the basket, and they just didn’t fall,” Alm said. “Defensively, I thought we did a pretty good job. I always say defense creates offensive opportunities, and I thought we created some, just not as many as I wanted.”

Charley Dusenbury’s 3-pointer two minutes into the third quarter pushed the Wolverines’ lead back to 21 points and gave Polk County the opportunity to substitute extensively at an important juncture of the game. Polk’s backups played well, with a starter or two to help keep them steady, and Lewis’ basket with eight seconds left in the third left the Wolverines just where they’d started – up by 21 at 40-19.

“The young girls came in and played hard and they turned the defense and the intensity up,” Alm said.

Polk then pulled away even more down the stretch, finishing the game on a 16-6 run, sparked by seven of Staton’s game-high 14 points. Lewis and Littlejohn each finished with 10 points for Polk County, 

Alaisha Hauser led the Patriots with 11 points.

Now, the Wolverines will turn their attention to Avery.

“We have some adjustments that need to be made for Friday,” Alm said. “We’re going to come in tomorrow, get focused, and get ready for Friday.”