A focused Polk County Middle girls basketball team is a dangerous Polk County Middle team, reasons head coach Michelle Fagan.
Rugby certainly found that out Monday.
The Wolverines led their Blue Ridge Middle School Conference matchup throughout the first three quarters, then pulled away in the fourth to hand the Raiders a 36-24 loss in Polk County Middle’s home opener.
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Upended last week at Brevard, the Wolverines (2-1) bounced back from that defeat with a solid defensive effort, holding Rugby (1-2) to nine points in the first half.
The Raiders pulled within five early in the third period, but back-to-back baskets by Kristen Hall and another by Kaylin Jenkins helped push the lead to 24-13 late in the third.
Rugby had one more rally to make, closing to within 26-20 early in the final quarter. Hall stopped that run with a basket, then Julia Griffin grabbed a rebound, drove the length of the court and hit a jumper to make it 30-20.
Hall and Rachael Davis then scored to push the lead to 34-22 with 2:23 remaining and end any Rugby hopes of a comeback.
“Our intensity level was our major focus,” Fagan said. “I felt like our intensity level was down at Brevard. We’ve really been telling the girls to focus on getting that intensity level up.
“When we do that, everything else falls into place.”
Olivia Overholt scored nine points to lead Polk Middle, with Hall and Griffin each adding eight. Emmie McDowell had three, with Marissa Twitty, Davis, Jenkins and Emily Prince each scoring two.
Polk Middle returns to action on Thursday, traveling to face Apple Valley at 4:30 p.m.
