Bailey Staton did the usual Bailey Staton things Friday, a record-setting 40-point outburst adding another to her growing list of school marks.
But the story of Polk County’s 72-47 victory over Bessemer City may well instead have been the play of its sophomore frontcourt, a trio growing in importance as the Wolverines prepare for a rugged stretch of Western Highlands Conference play.
Honesty Jackson had 13 points and six rebounds. Amiyah Waters had nine points, eight rebounds and three steals. Sofie Abrahamasen had five points and four boards. They helped Polk County (10-0) build a 10-point halftime lead, keeping the Wolverines in front until Staton caught fire in the third period to help fully put away the Yellow Jackets (4-7).
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“They play so well together. They reach each other well, they cut to the open spots on the court, they’re making strong passes,” said Polk County head coach Brandy Alm of her young trio. “They’re so much fun to coach.”
Bessemer City’s Addy Morehead opened the third quarter with a putback to slice Polk’s lead to 29-21, but then Staton took charge. She scored nine points in less than two minutes, her 3-pointer at the 6:12 mark giving the Wolverines a 38-21 advantage.
Abrahamsen followed with a five-point flurry, but Staton continued her barrage, capping the quarter with a driving layup that gave her 19 points in the period, 30 for the game and Polk a 54-35 lead heading into the final quarter.
Staton continued to find the net in the fourth, and her jumper with 2:25 remaining lifted her to 40 points for the evening, that breaking the old school mark of 38 held by Hayley Kropp. Staton also surpassed Kropp earlier in the week for both the school’s career scoring record and mark for most free throws in a career, and her 13 2-point field goals Friday broke the record of 12 previously held by Kylie Lewis.
Charley Dusenbury and Amber Chupp each added two points, with Dusenbury recording five steals and five assists, and Jeri Allen had one point for Polk County, which will welcome back another sophomore, Reeve Carroll, on Tuesday when the Wolverines travel to Madison for a Western Highlands Conference matchup.
“Once we get Reeve back, that just adds another layer to our defense,” Alm said. “We’re trying some new defenses to change it up a little bit.
“They make so many adjustments throughout the game. They’re starting to come together at the right time.”
