Polk, which lost to T.C. Roberson on Tuesday, is now 0-8, but head coach Josh McEntire has plenty of reason for optimism.

East led, 17-5, after the first quarter, but the Wolverines’ fierce defense cut the lead to 34-23 at the half.

“I’m vey pleased with where we are defensively,” McEntire emphasized, admitting that his squad’s offense must improve.

“If the defense is where it needs to be,” he noted, “the offense will come next. I’m not really frustrated. They’re playing hard.”

McEntire admitted that the Wolverines have to be stronger underneath, where East Henderson won the battle of the boards.

McEntire noted that no team that the Wolverines have played so far, got as far in the recent football season as did Polk, who went to the second round of state playoffs, thus keeping many basketball players out of early practices.

He pointed out that except for Jamal Wheeler and Wes Mullis, both veterans of last season, most of his players have spent little time working with each other. When the team is healthy, McEntire expects the wins to follow.

“We’re working hard,” he promised. “We’re getting better.”

Against East Henderson, Polk played aggressive defense, and was in the game until Wheeler was charged with his fourth foul.

“When Jamal got four fouls, that was the beginning of the end,” McEntire lamented.

Injury was added to insult, when freshman Holden Owens, a crisp ball handler, injured his leg in the third quarter, and had to be assisted off the court. Owens watched the rest of the game from the bench, with his ankle area bandaged. No news on his injury was available at press time.