By Mark Schmerling

Fans probably don’t care to hear words like “improvement,” and would prefer a long string of wins, but wins often follow improvement.

In the case of the Polk County men’s varsity basketball team, the improvement is fast-tracking, and Head Coach Josh McEntire is confident that consistent winning is not far off.

A case in point was the Wolverines’ contest against Madison on Friday evening, where only one point separated the two teams after three quarters. After that, the visiting Patriots sank a few three-point shots, and opened the gap en route to a 66-52 win.

Polk, falling to North Henderson, 78-55, last Wednesday, is now 0-6, but they have shown that they can give any team a run for its money.

McEntire noted that the contest was a “tough conference game against two teams evenly matched. I was pleased with our effort all night.”

He said he feels good about the energy, effort and the attitude that his players have shown. “We can’t ask for more.”

Jamal Wheeler hit an early layup to give Polk a 2-0 lead, which the Wolverines cultivated into advantages of 5-0 and 9-4, before Madison eked out a 14-11advantage after one quarter.

Second-quarter play was much the same, with extreme intensity by both squads, and Madison leading, 31-27, at the half. With the Patriots leading 28-25, Polk’s Wes Mullis hit a two-point jumper to make it 28-27.

Davis Derkach’s goal cut Madison’s third-quarter lead to 42-40. Madison escaped the quarter with a one-point lead, at 43-42.