Wolverine women ready for post-season
By Mark Schmerling

Polk County’s women’s varsity basketball team visited Brevard on Wednesday, and defeated the Blue Devils, 51-39, in non-conference action, but the Wolverines’ more telling game was at Columbus on Tuesday.

Then, the Wolverines turned back the Hendersonville Bearcats, 61-42, to up their Western Highlands Conference record to 7-5. They’re 16-8 overall.

Throughout the contest, Polk passed the ball around, waiting for good shot opportunities. The Wolverines’ first score came after Hayley Kropp fed Sarah Phipps (19 points, eight rebounds) for two. Polk went ahead, 5-0, before the Bearcats sank a three-pointer to get into the game. Hendersonville got as close as 9-8, before the first quarter ended with Polk ahead, 14-8.

Kropp scored ten, to give her 981 for her varsity career. She spiced that up with seven rebounds and five assists. Her 16 points against Brevard put her at 997, with a full season (and the 2015 playoffs) to go.

Against Hendersonville, Kara Overholt (19 points, 11 steals, and six assists) got things going early in the second quarter, with a steal and a bucket to put Polk ahead, 16-8.  Phipps then scored two after a teammate’s offensive rebound. Polk led, 18-8.

At the half, Polk led, 32-15, and tacked on an extra point to the lead in each of the last two periods.

“We’re moving the ball to make the defense play a little longer,” Polk coach Brandy Alm observed. “I was really pleased with our effort, as always.”

Maranda Gosnell, just a freshman, added four points. Freshman Autumn Owen scored three, while Ashley Kropp added four. Savannah Ross scored two.

By the fourth quarter, the Wolverines had worn down the Bearcats, and were able to penetrate and score repeatedly. Phipps scored from underneath to put the Wolverines up, 53-32. Moments later, Overholt did the same, and it was 55-32. Soon afterward, Overholt drove most of the length of the court for another layup and score.

On Wednesday at Brevard, Overholt scored nine, with five assists. Owen scored seven and grabbed seven rebounds, and Phipps scored eight. Katelyn Miller scored four, and Gosnell added three.

Information on the conference tournament’s location, dates and Polk’s seeding position, will be published when it becomes available.