LANDRUM – There were a few things that Polk County girls basketball coach Brandy Alm would like to forget about Saturday’s trip to Landrum.
A seven-minute stretch spanning the second and third quarters tops the list.
Landrum outscored Polk County 17-0 in that time, and that ultimately proved the difference as the Cardinals took a 49-37 win over their border rivals.
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Polk County (6-8) built a 21-14 lead on a Hayley Kropp free throw with 1:58 left in the second period. The Wolverines would not score again until the 2:36 mark of the third period, when Autumn Owen hit a free throw.
In between were a flurry of missed shots, a lot of pushing and shoving and possessions in which Landrum hit back-to-back 3-pointers to quickly turn a 23-21 lead into a 29-21 advantage, soon to be 31-21 before Owen’s free throw.
“It was a very frustrating game,” Alm said.
Polk County, though, made it interesting in an emotional fourth quarter. Down 33-27 at the start of the fourth quarter, Polk scored four quick points to cut the deficit to 33-31 and seemed to have its offense back on track.
But, again, Wolverine shots stopped falling, several layups spinning in and out of the basket, and the Cardinals surged ahead 39-31. Two Hayley Kropp free throws stopped the run, but Landrum pushed the lead to 43-34 with 1:41 remaining before Kropp buried a 3-pointer with 1:28 left.
That would be the final points for the Wolverines.
“One thing I can say is that we never, ever quit,” Alm said, “We never stop playing hard. We might lose focus on our execution offensively and defensively at times, but we still play hard.”
Kropp scored 23 points and matched her career high with 17 rebounds to lead Polk County.
to lead Polk County. Owen added eight points, with Alana Seay scoring four and Bella Marino scoring two. Ansley Lynch had six rebounds and Seay had five.
Polk County returns to action on Friday, hosting Hendersonville.
