Throughout its 0-10 start this season, Polk County’s girls basketball team has never stopped working hard in practice or games, according to head coach Brandy Alm.
All of that effort finally delivered dividends on Friday.
The Wolverines led from start to finish in routing Thomas Jefferson 51-17 in the seventh place game of the Knights Christmas Tournament in North Henderson’s Tom Pryor Gym.
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By the time Autumn Owen ended the first quarter with a 3-pointer to give Polk County a 13-2 lead, little doubt remained as to who the eventual victor would be in the late morning matchup. The Wolverines (1-10) made certain with an 8-0 run to open the second quarter – Owen scoring six points in that spurt – and held a 34-5 lead at the half.
The margin, which grew to 47-8 at the end of the third period, allowed Alm to liberally substitute, with a handful of junior varsity players seeing extended action in the second half.
It also meant a rewarding end to the year for a Polk County squad that Alm said deserved a victory.
“Absolutely, they did,” Alm said. “They work so hard every day, and to see them come out with this win is awesome.
“They played hard, they played well and they did a lot of little things right. The three JV players that we brought up and the six original varsity players here, everyone got a good amount of playing time.”
Owen led Polk County with 14 points, with freshman Ava Marino adding 12, 10 of those in the second quarter. Bella Marino had nine points, Ansley Lynch had eight, Makayla Staley had four and Anna McFadden and Taylor Newton each had two.
Thomas Jefferson dropped to 0-8 with the loss.
Polk County travels to Avery on Tuesday in a return to Western Highlands Conference play.
