By Mark Schmerling
Josh McEntire knows that his Polk County men’s varsity basketball squad can keep up with most any team, and for three quarters on Wednesday (Jan. 7), the Wolverines held off a talented A.C. Reynolds squad.

Everything went as it should, with the Wolverines displaying a combination of aggressive defense and controlled shooting.

But, when Jamal Wheeler got hurt, the Rockets’ fourth-quarter spurt helped them defeat Polk, 84-57, in non-conference action. Wheeler is expected back next week.

“When Jamal went down,” McEntire remarked, “that changed the complexity. He controlled the defense. He’s such a presence on the court.”

From the onset, the Wolverines played great defense and hit their shots to edge past the Rockets, to lead, 17-15 after the first quarter. At the half, Polk led, 34-32, but after Wheeler was hurt, Reynolds’s Rico Dowdle (game-high 24 points) and JaQuann Lockhart (22 points), took advantage, and helped the Rockets surge ahead. By the end of the third quarter, Reynolds led, 52-45, and the Rockets poured in 32 points in the final eight minutes.

Wheeler’s 13 points (including a pair of three-pointers) led Polk, with Jason Chupp adding 12, and Wes Mullis contributing eight. Mullis has been an increasing presence under the boards. In the first quarter, successive layups by Wheeler and Mullis put Polk ahead, 27-24.

“We did some really good things,” noted McEntire, always focusing on the positive. “I was proud of them. For three quarters, we played basketball like I knew we could play basketball.”

Back-up point guard, Dillon Overholt, just a freshman, is one reason that McEntire is optimistic.

“You can see glimpses of what a great player he’ll be McEntire observed.

Freshman Arnie Twitty looks to be another big contributor to the Wolverine effort, helping guide a young team that has begun to gel. Twitty displayed determination and talent in making a layup in heavy traffic, after his own rebound, to give Polk a 45-42 lead near the end of the third period.

Polk, 1-10 overall, and 1-3 in the Western Highlands Conference, hosts North Henderson on Monday, Jan. 12. On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Wolverines host Owen, in a conference game originally slated for Jan. 13.