Slow start dooms Polk Middle girls against Brevard

Michelle Fagan sees a lot of potential in Polk County Middle’s girls basketball program.

She also sees a lot of youth, with only three eighth graders on the 13-player squad. That inexperience showed itself at times Monday as Polk Middle dropped a 32-21 loss to Brevard Middle in the Wolverines’ home opener.

Brevard opened an 11-2 lead at the end of the first period, and Polk County (0-2) spent the rest of the game simply trying to whittle down the Devils’ advantage. The Wolverines largely played even with Brevard after the slow start but could never get the lead down below eight points in the second half.

“We’ve got to crash the boards better,” Fagan said. “We need to convert our offensive opportunities. We’ve got to get some points under the basket.”

Bre Kenan lead Polk Middle with 13 points, with Sara Muse scoring four and Kristen Hall and Belen Akers each adding two.

The Wolverines travel to Rugby on Thursday for another Blue Ridge Middle School Conference battle.