Polk’s 3-0 start backing Alm’s optimism for season

Brandy Alm has high hopes this season for Polk County’s girls basketball team this season. The Wolverines’ early results have backed that optimism.

Polk County maintained its unbeaten start to the 2021-22 season on Tuesday, rallying to defeat Piedmont Community Charter 53-39 in a non-conference clash in Gastonia.

The Wolverines (3-0) trailed 31-24 at halftime. But Polk County held Piedmont Charter (2-2) to just eight points in the second half, with all eight of those points coming at the foul line.

It’s the type of performance that Alm thinks her blend of youth and experience can provide this season.

“We are a very young team,” Alm said. “We have three seniors and two freshmen who start, and two more freshmen who play a ton of minutes off the bench.

“I’m very optimistic about our season. We have a group of athletes, and when we play with confidence, we are hard to defend.”

Leading the senior trio is Olivia Overholt, Polk County’s leading scorer as a freshman and sophomore before sitting out her junior year. Overholt scored 22 points in Tuesday’s win and is averaging 19.3 points per game to date.

Senior Tori Thompson had six points in the win and provides an athletic presence on both ends of the court, capable of handling point guard duties as well as moving inside to help on the boards. The third senior, Kinsley Huskey, had a career-high 14 points in Tuesday’s win and will be counted on in the Polk frontcourt.

The group of freshmen include Kiera Littlejohn, Gavionna Carson, Kylie Lewis, Mia Bradley and Tali Thompson. Returnees Vanessa Raposa, Brianna Gray and Sarah Gray provide additional depth.

Littlejohn had six points Tuesday, with Bradley and Brianna Gray each scoring two and Carson adding one point.

Polk County hasn’t posted a 4-0 start to the season since the 2014-15 season. The Wolverines will look to reach that mark on Thursday, traveling to Blue Ridge Early College in Cashiers for a 6 p.m. tip.