Robert Barrington concedes that his return to competitive basketball after a seven-year hiatus, as the new varsity head coach for the Baker High School boys team, is a story with unusual elements.
But as he watched the Bulldogs warm up for their usual pre-dawn practice in the BHS gym on Monday, Dec. 1, Barrington smiled as he talked about the season-opening game against Crook County in Prineville three days later.
“The boys are ready to start playing somebody else and stop playing against each other,” Barrington said. “They’re hungry. They have high expectations for themselves.”
People outside the program, though, might have a different impression of this year’s Bulldog squad.
Barrington, who is in his 12th year at BHS, where he teaches chemistry and physics, said that based on his conversations with coaches and others, he has a sense that people don’t expect the Bulldogs to contend for their third straight Class 4A state title.
He hopes that attitude will help motivate the players.
“They’re not respecting these boys,” Barrington said.
He’s eager to see the Bulldogs have a chance to prove doubters wrong.
The team’s slogan is expressed in the two words printed on the shirt Barrington wore for Monday’s practice: “Earn It.”
“We’ve got to earn it,” Barrington said.
Back-to-back champions
Barrington’s return to coaching follows the greatest two-year stint in Baker boys basketball history.
Jebron Jones, who moved to Meridian, Idaho, after leading the Bulldogs for seven years, guided Baker to the state title in 2024 and 2025, an unprecedented feat for the school.
Most of the players who fueled that dynasty have graduated.
But Barrington isn’t starting over.
This year’s squad includes four returners — seniors Eli Long and Jack Joseph, and juniors Hayden Churchfield and Quin Wellman.
Long scored 33 points in Baker’s three games at the 2025 state tournament, including 11 points in the championship game against Marshfield. Churchfield scored four points in that game.
Joseph and Wellman both played in the state tournament as well.
That quartet’s varsity experience provides a solid foundation, Barrington said.
“We’ve got some leaders,” he said. “That’s very helpful.”
He’s also excited about the newcomers to the varsity roster.
Senior Talon Gyllenberg is the Bulldogs’ “defensive trigger,” Barrington said.
Another senior, Kale Dalke, is a high-energy player who has a knack for getting his teammates excited.
Barrington said the roster includes several players who would have been on the varsity team in the past couple years if the Bulldogs hadn’t been “loaded with talent” during the back-to-back championship seasons.
He understands, and relishes, the challenge of replacing a coach who had unprecedented success.
“I don’t see it as pressure,” Barrington said. “I know we have something with this group of boys.”
Lifelong love for basketball
Although Barrington is starting his first year as Baker’s varsity coach, he brings a wealth of experience to the bench.
That includes several years of coaching at the JV and JV2 levels during his dozen years at BHS.
Barrington grew up in Virginia City, Nevada, where he played basketball all four years and helped the school win a state title.
In the town of about 800 — Barrington said his graduating class numbered 30 — he “played every minute of every game” during high school.
Barrington went on to play basketball at Eastern Oregon University.
One of his coaches, during his freshman year in La Grande, was Jebron Jones.
“I’ve known Jebron for a long time,” Barrington said.
Barrington’s coaching experience dates back to high school.
As a senior, age 17, he coached a middle school girls team.
After coaching for several years at BHS, Barrington decided to “step away rom the game.”
He said he realized he had devoted himself to the game, as a player and coach, for more than 20 straight years, since he was 4 years old.
Barrington remained a fan during his hiatus from coaching.
He brought his kids to many games at BHS and enjoyed watching Jones’ teams dominate most of their opponents.
Barrington and his wife, Rebecca, have two children — their daughter, Rose, is 4, and their son, Ryker, is 2.
The kids sometimes greet their dad by handing him a basketball when he gets home, Barrington said with a laugh.
“I’m already indoctrinating them,” he said.
After Jones announced his move, Barrington said he talked with his wife and decided to apply for the job.
“I missed basketball,” he said. “I saw an opportunity to get back into it. Thankfully I was hired.”
Early challenges
Barrington’s Bulldogs won’t exactly ease into the season.
Baker starts with three games in three days against Class 5A schools at the Crook County Invite tournament in Prineville.
Baker will play Crook County Thursday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs will play Bend on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and finish the tournament against Mazama on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Barrington said he’s excited about continuing the regional rivalry with Crook County, even though the Cowboys have moved up from Class 4A to 5A this season.
Baker and Crook County played three times last season, with Baker winning two of three. That included a 54-48 win in a quarterfinal game at the state tournament — the closest of Baker’s three wins in the event.
The Cowboys return several players, including Bryce Lowenbach, who scored 23 points in the state tournament game.
Barrington is familiar with the Cowboys — Crook County coach Jason Mumm is a former teammate at EOU.
“We go way back,” Barrington said.
He’s glad that Baker will start with three games against larger schools.
“I want to test them early and I want to test them later,” he said. “I want every game to be a challenge. That builds character.”
Barrington said 27 players are in the program, which includes JV and JV2 squads.
He credits Jones with overseeing Baker’s AAU basketball program, which has created a “pipeline” of players who start playing together in elementary school.
“That’s part of Jebron’s legacy,” Barrington said. “We have younger players who are hungry and ready to go. We’re going to be a program to contend with going forward.”
Baker opens its home schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 9, against Enterprise at 7:30 p.m.
Baker boys basketball schedule
Dec. 4: at Crook County, 8 p.m.
Dec. 5: vs. Bend (at Crook County High School), 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 6: vs. Mazama (at Crook County High School), 11 a.m.
Dec. 9: vs. Enterprise, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11: at Vale, 6 p.m. PST
Dec. 16: vs. Homedale, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18: at McCall-Donnelly, 11 a.m. PST
Dec. 29-31: at Stayton tournament, opponents, times TBD
Jan. 3: vs. Parma, time TBD
Jan. 6: at Homedale, 6:30 p.m. PST
Jan. 9: at Cole Valley, 6:30 p.m. PST
Jan. 13: vs. Vale, 7 p..m.
Jan. 15: at Pendleton, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20: at La Grande, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Junction City, time TBD
Jan. 24: at Marist Catholic, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: vs. Ontario, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3: vs. Riverside, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: vs. Pendleton, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10: vs. Nyssa, 7 p.m.
Feb. 13: vs. La Grande, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: at Ontario, 6:30 p.m. PST
Feb. 21: at The Dalles, 4:30 p.m.
Baker girls basketball
The Bulldogs return several players from the team that finished third at the state tournament in March 2025.
Dec. 4: vs. Seaside at Crook County High School), 3:30 p.m.
Dec. 5-6: at Crook County tournament, opponents, times TBD
Dec. 9: vs. Enterprise, 6 p.m.
Dec. 16: at Fruitland, 6 p.m. PST
Dec. 18: vs. Elma, Washington (at Seaside tournament), time TBD
Dec. 19-20: at Seaside tournament, opponents, times TBD
Dec. 29-31: at Stayton tournament, opponents, times TBD
Jan. 3: vs. Parma, 4 p.m.
Jan. 6: vs. Burns, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: at Vale, 4:30 p.m. PST
Jan. 15: at Pendleton, 6 p.m.
Jan. 17: vs. Fruitland, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 20: at La Grande, 6 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Junction City, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24: at Marist Catholic, 1 p.m.
Jan. 30: vs. Ontario, 6 p.m.
Feb. 3: vs. Riverside, 6 p.m.
Feb. 6: vs. Pendleton, 6 p.m.
Feb. 13: vs. La Grande, 6 p.m.
Feb. 14: vs. The Dalles, 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: at Ontario, 5 p.m. PST
Baker boys wrestling
Dec. 5: dual with Nampa Christian, at Baker
Dec. 12-13: Muilenburg tournament at La Grande
Dec. 20: White Buffalo Invite at Madras
Dec. 29-30: Sierra Nevada Classic at Reno, Nevada
Jan. 2: Pendleton duals at Pendleton
Jan. 10: Hood River Valley dual at Hood River
Jan. 16-17: Oregon Wrestling Classic, Redmond
Jan. 20: vs. Ontario at Baker
Jan. 24: Grant Union tournament
Jan. 27: vs. La Grande at Baker
Feb. 6: at Pendleton
Feb. 14-15: District tournament at Madras
Baker girls wrestling
Dec. 6: Ardis Nash tournament at Homedale, Idaho
Dec. 12-13: Safeway Buckle Classic at La Grande
Dec. 19: Lady Buffalo Invite at Madras
Dec. 29-30: Sierra Nevada Classic at Reno, Nevada
Jan. 2-3: Rollie Lane Invitational at Boise
Jan. 9-10: Jay Bird tournament at Nampa, Idaho
Jan. 17: Battle in the Blue tournament at College Place, Washington
Jan. 23: Grant Union tournament
Jan. 31: Harrisburg tournament
Feb. 7: Irrigon tournament
Powder Valley boys basketball
Dec. 5: vs. Jordan Valley (at Ontario High School), noon PST
Dec. 5: at Ontario High School, opponent TBD, 6 p.m. PST
Dec. 6: at Ontario High School, opponent, time TBD
Dec. 11: vs. Weston-McEwen (Calvin Hiatt Invitational at Powder Valley), 7 p.m.
Dec. 11-13: Calvin Hiatt Invitational, opponents, times TBD
Dec. 18: vs. Echo (at Pilot Rock High School), 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: vs. Nixyaawii (at Pilot Rock High School), noon
Dec. 20: vs. Mapleton (at Pilot Rock High School), 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 30: at Imbler, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 3: vs. Weston-McEwen, 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: vs. Prairie City/Burnt River, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: at Wallowa, 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Union, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17: vs. Pine Eagle, 3:30 p.m.
Jan 20: at Grant Union, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: at Joseph, 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: at Pine Eagle, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31: vs. Wallowa, 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: vs. Crane, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: vs. Elgin, 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: at Union, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: vs. Joseph, 3:30 p.m.
Powder Valley girls basketball
Dec. 5: vs. Jordan Valley (at Ontario High School), 2 p.m. PST
Dec. 5-6: at Ontario High School, opponents TBD, 6 p.m. PST
Dec. 11-13: Calvin Hiatt Invitational at Powder Valley High School, opponents, times TBD
Dec. 18: vs. Echo (at Pilot Rock High School), 6 p.m.
Dec. 19: vs. Nixyaawii (at Pilot Rock High School), 11 a.m.
Dec. 20: vs. Mapleton (at Pilot Rock High School), 11 a.m.
Dec. 30: at Imbler, 4 p.m.
Jan. 3: vs. Weston-McEwen, 2 p.m.
Jan. 9: vs. Prairie City/Burnt River, 6 p.m.
Jan. 10: at Wallowa, 2 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Union, 6 p.m.
Jan. 17: vs. Pine Eagle, 2 p.m.
Jan. 20: at Grant Union, 6 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Elgin, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24: at Joseph, 2 p.m.
Jan. 30: at Pine Eagle, 6 p.m.
Jan. 31: vs. Wallowa, 2 p.m.
Feb. 6: vs. Crane, 6 p.m.
Feb. 7: vs. Elgin, 2 p.m
Feb. 12: at Union, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: vs. Joseph, 4 p.m.
Pine Eagle boys basketball
Dec. 18: vs. Four Rivers, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: at Enterprise, 7:30 p.m
Dec. 20: alumni game at Pine Eagle, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29: vs. Pilot Rock (at Nixyaawii High School), 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 31: at Nixyaawii, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 3: at Four Rivers, 4:30 p.m. PST
Jan. 8: at Dayville/Monument/Long Creek (Monument High School), 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: at Union, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Joseph, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17: at Powder Valley, 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: vs. Salmon River, Idaho, 5 p.m.
Jan. 23: at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: vs. Wallowa, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: vs. Powder Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31: at Union, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: at Joseph, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: at Wallowa, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 13: vs. Elgin (senior night), 7:30 p.m.
Pine Eagle girls basketball
Dec. 18: vs. Four Rivers, 6 p.m.
Dec. 19: at Enterprise, 6 p.m.
Dec. 20: alumni game at Pine Eagle, 6 p.m.
Dec. 29: vs. Pilot Rock (at Nixyaawii High School), 1 p.m.
Dec. 31: vs. Nixyaawii, 4 p.m.
Jan. 3: at Four Rivers, 4 p.m. PST
Jan. 8: at Dayville/Monument/Long Creek (Monument High School), 5 p.m.
Jan. 9: at Union, 6 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Joseph, 6 p.m.
Jan. 17: at Powder Valley, 2 p.m.
Jan. 23: vs. Elgin, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24: vs. Wallowa, 4 p.m.
Jan. 29: vs. Adrian, 6 p.m.
Jan. 30: vs. Powder Valley, 6 p.m.
Jan. 31: vs. Union, 4 p.m.
Feb. 6: at Joseph, 6 p.m.
Feb. 7: at Wallowa, 4 p.m.
Feb. 13: vs. Elgin, 6 p.m.
Huntington boys basketball
Dec. 6: vs. Crane, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: vs. Griswold, 2 p.m.
Jan. 24: at Jordan Valley, noon PST
Jan. 30: vs. Prairie City/Burnt River, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31: at Four Rivers, 2 p.m. PST
Feb. 13: vs. Jordan Valley, 6 p.m.
Feb. 14: at Dayville/Monument/Long Creek (Monument High School), 1 p.m.
Huntington girls basketball
Jan. 10: vs. Griswold, 2 p.m.
Jan. 31: at Four Rivers, 5 p.m. PST