Polk Middle boys basketball squad learning lessons off the court

Polk County Middle School boys basketball coach John Rochford, in his first season leading the program, has been working just as hard off the court as on to build the Wolverines into not only solid basketball players, but outstanding young men.

Rochford and the team held a bonding session earlier this season, watching the movie Hoosiers and using the movie to help shape “a lot of themes and mantras for our season,” Rochford said.

At Christmas, Rochford and players visited Autumn Care of Forest City, singing carols to residents there.

“It was a lot of fun and the boys learned the value of respecting their elders,” Rochford said.