Bulldogs Gearing up for Winter Basketball Season
School departing from co-ed to form separate boys’, girls’ teams
EASTFORD — Coming off a tough 2024-25 basketball campaign, the Eastford Bulldogs are looking to reset this season (which begins on Thursday, Dec. 4) with a few key changes in store.
Over the last few years, due to participation, EES has put together a co-ed team, with both boys and girls competing on the same squad. This year, however, interest has peaked to the point where both boys and girls will now be able to compete on their own teams. Zach Hutchings is set to return as head coach of the boys’ team, while Jennifer Barlow will take over head coaching duties for the girls’ squad, which hasn’t fielded a team of its own since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m super excited to bring back a girls basketball team for the first time since before COVID,” Barlow said. “I will likely be growing and learning just as much, if not more than these girls, but it should be a fun year.”
Hutchings said he is looking forward to returning to the sidelines to lead the Bulldogs boys’ team.
“I am excited to play in a new, more competitive division this season,” he said. “We have one of the best eighth graders in northeast Connecticut and we have some underclassmen that are going to make some solid contributions.”
After coaching both boys and girls over the past few seasons, Hutchings added that he is excited to see where Barlow takes the girls’ team this year.
“I’m ecstatic that we have the numbers for a girls team this year,” he said. “I know from last year that there are some girls with amazing potential that I hope get a chance to really experience the game this season. With Coach Barlow’s positive attitude and approach, I’m confident they will find success. Let’s go Bulldogs!”
Eastford, which participates in the Quinebaug Valley Junior Conference (QVJC), is set to compete in 10 contests during the regular season, featuring both a home game and an away game against fellow QVJC teams St. James (Danielson), Parish Hill (Chaplin), Wheeler (North Stonington), Pomfret, and Ashford. Pomfret is the defending QVJC champion, having defeated Canterbury in last year’s finals. The Communicator will report game results as they happen, including photos when able, live on the Communicator Facebook page, so stay tuned for ongoing coverage this basketball season!
EES Boys Basketball Schedule
- Thursday, Dec. 4: vs. St. James; 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Monday, Dec. 8: vs. Parish Hill, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Thursday, Dec. 11: vs. Wheeler, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Monday, Dec. 15: vs. Pomfret, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Thursday, Dec. 18: vs. Ashford, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Tuesday, Jan. 6: @ Wheeler, 3:30 p.m. (Varsity Only), Wheeler High School, 297 Norwich-Westerly Rd, North Stonington
- Thursday, Jan. 8: @ Pomfret, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Pomfret Community School, 20 Pomfret St., Pomfret
- Monday, Jan. 12: @ Ashford, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Ashford Elementary School, 440 Westford Rd., Ashford
- Thursday, Jan. 15: @ St. James, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); St. James Parochial School, 120 Water St, Danielson
- Tuesday, Jan. 20: @ Parish Hill, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Parish Hill Middle School, 304 Parish Hill Rd, Chaplin
EES Girls Basketball Schedule
- Thursday, Dec. 4: @ St. James; 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); St. James Parochial School, 120 Water St, Danielson
- Monday, Dec. 8: @ Parish Hill, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Parish Hill Middle School, 304 Parish Hill Rd, Chaplin
- Thursday, Dec. 11: @ Wheeler, 3:30 p.m. (Varsity Only), Wheeler High School, 297 Norwich-Westerly Rd, North Stonington
- Monday, Dec. 15: @ Pomfret, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Pomfret Community School, 20 Pomfret St, Pomfret
- Thursday, Dec. 18: @ Ashford, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Ashford Elementary School, 440 Westford Rd, Ashford
- Tuesday, Jan. 6: vs. Wheeler, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Thursday, Jan. 8: vs. Pomfret, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Monday, Jan. 12: vs. Ashford, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Thursday, Jan. 15: vs. St. James, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
- Tuesday, Jan. 20: vs. Parish Hill, 3:30 p.m. (JV), 4:15 p.m. (Varsity); Eastford Elementary School
Adam Minor photo
