Beginning her second season as Polk County’s head girls basketball coach, Brandy Alm positively glows when she talks about the program’s future.
Which is a good thing, given how much that future will be on display this season.
When Polk County opens its 2015-2016 season on Tuesday against East Henderson, Alm will be one of the few familiar faces on the Wolverines’ bench from last year’s 17-9 squad that reached the second round of the state 2A playoffs. Polk County returns just two players – both starters – from last year’s squad, and seven of the 10 players on this year’s team are either sophomores or freshman.
Get PolkSports delivered to your inbox
Sign up for our free newsletter →
There’s also no one on the 10-player roster over 5-7, but Alm isn’t dwelling on that nor the team’s inexperience.
“We’re young, but they work so hard,” Alm said. “Every one of them works hard and is eager to learn.
“One thing we’re saying this year is that there will not be another team that outworks us. We’re going to outwork everyone we play. We’re still learning some basketball fundametnals, but there’s such a positive vibe around this team. What coach doesn’t like positive athletes?”
One player that Alm is very positive about is senior Hayley Kropp. The 5-7 guard became only the third player in school history to top 1,000 career points last year and needs just 52 points to become Polk County’s all-time leading scorer, breaking Kim Staley’s career record of 1,084 points.
Kropp averaged 15.6 points and a career-high eight rebounds per game last season and will be relied upon this year not only for those numbers, but to also help mentor the young Wolverine squad.
“She’s definitely able to handle it,” Alm said of Kropp. “She’s an uplifting type of leader and learned a lot from Sarah (Phipps) and Kara (Overholt) last year.
“She’s a leader by example. Sometimes she’s not as vocal as I push her to be, but she leads by example. She’s a pleasure to coach and she drives the other girls.”
Joining Kropp in the backcourt will be sophomores Karli Wood and Bella Marino and freshmen Mariah Overholt and Ansley Lynch.
Lynch will also likely see time in the frontcourt, where Polk County’s other returning starter, Autumn Owen, is back after averaging six points and four rebounds per game last season. Senior Rosalia Castillo-Palomar and junior Alana Seay saw action last season on Polk’s junior varsity squad and will be joined by freshman Makayla Staley and sophomore Kendall Hall, the volleyball standout opting to add basketball to her resume.
“She’s doing an awesome job,” Alm said of Hall. “She’s a smart athletic girl.”
Alm brought an uptempo approach to both ends of the court last season, and expect to see this year’s Wolverines do the same.
“We’re going to be quick and be physical,” Alm said. “When you look at the athletes we have, we’re going to be very quick and very aggressive.
“I wouldn’t trade this team for anyone. They’re such a pleasure to coach, and I can’t express how hard they work. I can’t wait to see what happens Tuesday night.”
