Polk County dug itself an early hole Friday and never found a way out.
The Wolverines failed to score for a five-minute span of the first and second quarters, allowing East Rutherford to build a double-digit lead it never lost in a 60-39 victory at Polk.
Polk (3-11, 1-4) trailed 8-4 following Khristian Littlejohn’s breakaway dunk midway through the first period. By the time Aaron Jackson fashioned a three-point play at the 7:01 mark of the second period, the Cavaliers (3-12, 2-2) held a 17-4 lead.
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The Wolverines trailed by 12 at halftime, but opened the third period with a run of their own, scoring the first nine points to pull within 29-26. East responded with an 8-0 surge to build an 11-point lead, and Polk got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Aaron Jackson led Polk County, which played without injured guard Gunnar Alm, with 21 points. Khristian Littlejohn added six, with Dallas Littlejohn scoring five.
David Duffy, Jayce Edwards and Khalil Austin each added two points, with Nate Fagan scoring one.
Polk County continues Mountain Foothills 7 Conference play on Tuesday, hosting Brevard.
