by Mark Schmerling

“Two bad quarters,” was Coach Craig Culbreth’s assessment of how Polk County’s women‘s basketball team came out on the short end of a 47-45 score against Madison on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The Wolverines fell to 8-7 overall, and just 2-5 in the conference.

Polk led 17-11 after the first quarter, but that lead slipped to 3 points at the half, with Polk up just 24-21. The Wolverines scored just 7 points in 8 minutes.

Hayley Kropp’s 16 points kept the Wolverines in the game, but Polk’s 5-point third quarter was hardly a momentum-builder.

“That (quarter) hurt us,” said Culbreth, whose small lineup (just eight players), might have been fatigued toward the end.

“I feel we’re playing really well,” said Culbreth. “We have that bad quarter, and we have to get over it. This (Polk) is a pretty good team, very aggressive.”

Polk fell behind by 33-24, before Kropp went two-for-two at the stripe to make it 36-26. India Godlock’s 3-point bucket at the buzzer left Polk with 8 minutes to go to work, and with hope for a win. Down by 43-28 at one point, Polk roared back to trail just 43-40, on Ashley Love’s basket. Kropp’s basket was the final score of the game, cutting Madison’s lead to 47-45.

Unfortunately, with eight games in the next two weeks, rest won’t be much of an option.

“Sometimes, this time of year, it’s better to play than practice. Recent winter weather forced schedule changes that will add games in the upcoming weeks,” Culbreth said.

The Wolverines visit West Henderson on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and host Owen on Friday, Feb. 7.