Published on: Thursday, January 17, 2013

By Ted Howard

ROCKVILLE - The Winston Churchill Bulldogs (9-3) hosted the Walter Johnson Wildcats (6-7) Friday and had an outstanding victory, defeating the Wildcats 71-53 and snapping Walter Johnson’s undefeated win streak in league play.

Churchill came out strong, dropping five 3-pointers in the first half; guard Jesse Locke gave the Bulldog’s offense a spark by making 3 of the 5 three-pointers from Churchill.

Walter Johnson’s lack of ball control allowed the Bulldogs’ defense to capitalize off many Wildcats turnovers.

The Bulldog offense was simply untouchable, with five players scoring in double digits. Several fouls by the Churchill defense gave Walter Johnson a chance to cut the lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs offense was too much to handle in the end.

“We’re just a different team this year,” said Churchill coach Matt Miller. “Our team is more athletic this year and that adds a little bit more to our game plan”.

The Bulldogs went all the way to the regional finals last year, where they lost to the Magruder Colonels, who would go on to win the state title.

 “We just practice harder and harder as the season goes on,” senior Malik Harris said, adding that this team is more athletic than others in the past. “Our defense is just flying around.”

Indeed, the Bulldogs defense caused more than 10 turnovers to seal the victory.

Walter Johnson’s senior center Sean Poosson led the wildcats with 13 points, while Churchill guards Harris and Allen Njumbe put up 16 points apiece.

The Bulldogs travel to Bethesda-Chevy Chase for their next matchup, and Walter Johnson hosts Whitman.