Wheaton Bulldogs are now 5-1 on young 2011-12 season

Bulldogs off to a great start The Wheaton Bulldog boys varsity basketball team is enjoying a great start to the 2011-12 season. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: head coach Rusty Roe, Chase Cantwell, Justin Yeary, Tyler Musick, Matt Hickman, Kyle Robbins, Jesse Mitchell, Robert Yang and assistant coach Dale Forgey. Second row: Zach Prewitt, Sean Goostree, Bubba Galvan, Jory Bartkoski, Justin Walker and assistant coach Lindy Lombard. The team is shown after winning the recent Marionville Tournament.

In the game against East Newton, Wheaton kept its undefeated streak alive behind the offensive play of Jory Bartkoski who put up 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Bulldogs. Bubba Galvan added 6 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

Wheaton shot 75 percent from the free-throw line and only turned the ball over 10 times against the Eagles.

In the Bulldogs' home opener on Friday, Wheaton enjoyed a 31-28 lead going into halftime against visiting Verona, but in the second half, the Wildcats took over, outscoring Wheaton 30-25. Cody Ernsberger hit a contested jumper with three seconds left to lift the Wildcats to a 58-56 victory over the Bulldogs.

"We did not make the shots that we have been making so far this season," said Coach Rusty Roe. "Verona did a great job of swarming the basketball when we were on offense, and they forced us to make some key turnovers (five) in the fourth quarter.

"We are in a very tough conference where if you don't show up to play every night, then you will get beat," added Roe. "Both teams worked extremely hard, and it was a tough-fought game that Verona beat us in."