Early in the fourth quarter, much was going Madison’s way against Polk County’s men’s varsity basketball team Tuesday night.

The Patriots got inside and scored. They popped a few three pointers, and in general, cut the Wolverines’ lead from 57-40 at the end of three quarters. When Polk players got inside, they were not so effective.

But, Polk did not panic. After Madison had cut the deficit to 61-58, rebounds found Polk hands, or vice versa. Wolverine players started popping baskets themselves.

At the end of four quarters, the Wolverines enjoyed a well-earned 74-67 win at Columbus.

“It’s great to get a win,” reflected Polk’s head coach, Josh McEntire, “and get a conference win over a team like that. We made some big shots when we needed to down the stretch. Our intensity picked up in the last two to three minutes, and closed the game out.”

The win was just the Wolverines’ fourth overall of the season. They’re 2-4 in Western Highlands Conference competition, with a chance to knock off more WHC rivals, and get into and make some noise in the playoffs.

Madison is now 0-7 in the WHC.

The Wolverines game at West Henderson, not a conference rival, originally set for Wednesday Jan. 20, was postponed due to possible poor driving conditions then. A new date has not been announced.

Against Madison, “We’ve got to amp it up to get back into the (conference) race,” McEntire remarked. He noted that except for about the first four minutes in the first and fourth quarters, the Wolverines played very well.

In the second and third quarters, McEntire reported, the Wolverines showed “more defensive intensity.”

Sophomore Dillon Overholt’s 23 points led the Wolverines.

“Dillon was key tonight,” McEntire announced. “That’s the kind of Dillon we can see from now on.”

Holden and Jaymes both hit double figures for us,” McEntire continued. “That was huge.” Holden Owens had 10 points, including two three-pointers, and Jaymes Wingo had 16 points and at least six rebounds.

With Polk leading just 63-58, Jamal Wheeler connected for two points. Just after that, he drove for two more points, was fouled, and made the shot, to put Polk ahead 69-61. Overholt’s two-for- two on a one-and-one foul shooting opportunity extended Polk’s lead to 74-65, while just before Wingo was one-for-two in such a spot.

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Wolverines host conference rival Mitchell. Next Friday, Jan. 29, they’re to visit Avery County, also in the WHC.