Playing a conference game without one of your team’s strong starters is not a recipe for success, but, in spite of that handicap, Polk County defeated Mitchell, 52-48, in women’s basketball at Columbus on Friday, Jan. 2.

The Wolverines climbed to 7-3 overall, and 1-2 in conference play.

After the first quarter, Mitchell, which entered the game at 4-8 overall, led, 15-13, as many Polk shots from the field were oh, so close. One might have surmised that once the Wolverines found the range, the lead would change. In the second quarter, the Wolverines did find the range, with Kara Overholt ten points overall) and Hayley Kropp (a game-leading 20 points, pus eight rebounds, on the evening), igniting a 22-8 effort, which gave Polk a 35-23 half-time lead.

However, the Mountaineers, taking advantage of the absence of Polk’s Sarah Phipps (who was returning from a trip to China), outscored the Wolverines, 17-9, in the third quarter, to close Polk’s lead to four, at 44-40.

Part of the Mountaineers’ effort was the hot shooting (three three-pointers and a two-point goal by Emma Duncan).

Part of the Wolverines’ success in keeping just ahead of the scrappy Mountaineers was head coach Brandy Alm’s admonition to her Wolverine players: “Don’t let that girl (Duncan) shoot again!”

Polk’s India Godlock stuck to Duncan like fly paper, until Godlock had to leave the game with a leg injury.

Duncan’s shooting was their main source of scoring, Alm noted. “We had to put a stop to that,” she said.

“Once India went down, we put Kara (Overholt) on her (Duncan),” Alm recounted.

In their first game back since the holiday break, “we had some stupid fouls,” Alm admitted. “We have a few things to work on.”

In spite of that, Alm pointed out, “We played much better as a team in the second half,” including better boxing out on rebound opportunities, and moving the versatile Hayley Kropp to post position.

“She (Kropp) is so aggressive, she can play anywhere,” Alm said. “She’s a gamer.” The Wolverines’ ability to make adjustments, said Alm, “was huge for us.”

Making needed adjustments kept Polk ahead through the fourth quarter. In the absence of Phipps, “A lot of our girls stepped in,” Alm noted.

Polk returns to action this Tuesday evening, Jan. 6, at Avery County. On Jan. 7 the   Wolverines will host A.C. Reynolds. On Monday, Jan. 12, North Henderson visits and Polk will host Owen on Jan. 13. Games are set to begin at 6:30 p.m.