Expect Polk County’s men’s varsity basketball team to win lots of games this year, but don’t expect ballet.

That was the case on Tuesday, Dec. 1, as the Wolverines clawed from behind to defeat an aggressive and talented Cherokee team, 71-69, at Columbus.

“It’s got to be a street fight,” Wolverine head coach Josh McEntire observed after the skirmish. “That’s the best way for us. Make it a street fight. It wasn’t pretty,” McEntire said of the win. “It’s nice to get a big win like that.”

This Friday evening, the Wolverines will host traditional rival Landrum. The women’s game will begin around 6:30 (following JV), with the men’s to follow. McEntire’s squad visits East Henderson on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and begins Western Highlands Conference play on Friday, Dec. 11 at Madison.

In tying their season mark at 1-1, the Wolverines got 26 points and a dozen rebounds from Jamal Wheeler; 14 points and 15 rebounds from the increasingly aggressive Wes Mullis; 12 rebounds from James Wingo; and key three pointers from Holden Owens. One of those three-pointers broke a 51-52 tie; the next put the Wolverines ahead, 57-53.

“He’s a great shooter,” said McEntire of Owens, who is only a sophomore, as is another Wolverine talent, Dillon Overholt. Brandon Bacher, a junior, also fired in multiple three-pointers.

Owens was involved in one of the game’s highlight plays, when, as he was fouled late in the game and went to the floor, he called time out. It was Polk’s last time out of the evening, but crucial, McEntire noted.

The Braves built a 22-12 first-quarter lead, but the Wolverines adjusted.

Early in the game, Polk’s two main inbound passers, Davis Derkach (seven rebounds) and Wingo were each tagged with two fouls, causing McEntire to pull them temporarily. By the time they re-entered the game, several inbound Polk passes plus a few other passes, found their way into Braves’ hands, helping Cherokee build its 22-12 first-quarter bulge.

From the opening buzzer, Cherokee ran off a 6-0 lead. Polk tied the score at six. While the Wolverines did not win the game on their foul shooting (16 of 31 overall), two of those early points came on Wheeler’s two-for-two from the line. On the other hand, the Braves did themselves no favors, hitting only 12 of 29 from the free stripe.

The Wolverines’ intense defensive pressure eventually helped them take advantage of the Braves’ run-and-gun style, as Cherokee players launched many shots, not a lot of which went through the net.

Credit Polk with staying with a very fast and talented team, thus prompting McEntire’s “street fight” reference. So intense was the battle that any Braves’ basket elicited an eruption of cheers from the Cherokee stands, as did a Wolverine basket from the Polk side.

By half time, Polk had knocked three points off their guests’ lead. Wheeler’s three-pointer closed the Braves’ lead to 34-27, where it stood after 16 minutes of play.

After three quarters, Cherokee led by a mere two points (51-49). Field goals by Wheeler and a foul shot by Mullis helped tie the game at 37, with the lead continuing to change hands.

Starting the final period, Mullis’s driving layup tied the score at 51.

Wingo’s two-point goal gave Polk a 70-69 advantage. Wheeler, who was fouled in the final seconds, made one of two, to end the scoring.