Polk County got off to a strong start in the first round of the Battle at the Border in Landrum.

The Lady Wolverines, led by Jamie Hrobak, dominated Chapman for most of the game, but the Lady Panthers made the ball game closer in the end before Polk closed out a 55-52 victory.

The Lady Wolverines were up by double digits in the game’s entirety.

“We need to keep working on keeping the intensity up the whole ball game,” Polk Coach Craig Culbreth said.

Chapman tied the game up at 38 with 4:15 left in the third quarter. At that moment, Hrobak took over the game. The senior post player scored six of Polk’s eight points in the final four minutes of the third quarter to extend Polk’s lead to 46-38.

After two baskets by Chapman’s Tanae Copeland the Lady Panthers were down 51-50 with 1:42 left in the game.

Alyssa Montgomery answered the call. The senior guard scored a basket and hit two free throws to ice the victory for Polk.

“It feels good (to get off to a good start in the tournament),” Culbreth said.

After a one-year hiatus, the Lady Wolverines are hoping to make a run.

Hrobak led the way for Polk with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Shalyn Brown and Savannah Deaver scored nine points each.

Montgomery chipped in six points and Cassidy Mazzilli had four steals.

Polk will play the winner of East Rutherford and Fort Mill today at 4 p.m.