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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys are ready to start playing somebody else and stop playing against each other,\u201d Barrington said. \u201cThey\u2019re hungry. They have high expectations for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
People outside the program, though, might have a different impression of this year\u2019s Bulldog squad.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t expect the Bulldogs to contend for their third straight Class 4A state title.<\/p>\n
He hopes that attitude will help motivate the players.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not respecting these boys,\u201d Barrington said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s eager to see the Bulldogs have a chance to prove doubters wrong.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s slogan is expressed in the two words printed on the shirt Barrington wore for Monday\u2019s practice: \u201cEarn It.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to earn it,\u201d Barrington said.<\/p>\n
Back-to-back champions<\/p>\n
Barrington\u2019s return to coaching follows the greatest two-year stint in Baker boys basketball history.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Most of the players who fueled that dynasty have graduated.<\/p>\n
But Barrington isn\u2019t starting over.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s squad includes four returners \u2014 seniors Eli Long and Jack Joseph, and juniors Hayden Churchfield and Quin Wellman.<\/p>\n
Long scored 33 points in Baker\u2019s three games at the 2025 state tournament, including 11 points in the championship game against Marshfield. Churchfield scored four points in that game.<\/p>\n
Joseph and Wellman both played in the state tournament as well.<\/p>\n
That quartet\u2019s varsity experience provides a solid foundation, Barrington said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got some leaders,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s very helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also excited about the newcomers to the varsity roster.<\/p>\n
Senior Talon Gyllenberg is the Bulldogs\u2019 \u201cdefensive trigger,\u201d Barrington said.<\/p>\n
Another senior, Kale Dalke, is a high-energy player who has a knack for getting his teammates excited.<\/p>\n
Barrington said the roster includes several players who would have been on the varsity team in the past couple years if the Bulldogs hadn\u2019t been \u201cloaded with talent\u201d during the back-to-back championship seasons.<\/p>\n
He understands, and relishes, the challenge of replacing a coach who had unprecedented success.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see it as pressure,\u201d Barrington said. \u201cI know we have something with this group of boys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lifelong love for basketball<\/p>\n
Although Barrington is starting his first year as Baker\u2019s varsity coach, he brings a wealth of experience to the bench.<\/p>\n
That includes several years of coaching at the JV and JV2 levels during his dozen years at BHS.<\/p>\n
Barrington grew up in Virginia City, Nevada, where he played basketball all four years and helped the school win a state title.<\/p>\n
In the town of about 800 \u2014 Barrington said his graduating class numbered 30 \u2014 he \u201cplayed every minute of every game\u201d during high school.<\/p>\n
Barrington went on to play basketball at Eastern Oregon University.<\/p>\n
One of his coaches, during his freshman year in La Grande, was Jebron Jones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve known Jebron for a long time,\u201d Barrington said.<\/p>\n
Barrington\u2019s coaching experience dates back to high school.<\/p>\n
As a senior, age 17, he coached a middle school girls team.<\/p>\n
After coaching for several years at BHS, Barrington decided to \u201cstep away rom the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Barrington remained a fan during his hiatus from coaching.<\/p>\n
He brought his kids to many games at BHS and enjoyed watching Jones\u2019 teams dominate most of their opponents.<\/p>\n
Barrington and his wife, Rebecca, have two children \u2014 their daughter, Rose, is 4, and their son, Ryker, is 2.<\/p>\n
The kids sometimes greet their dad by handing him a basketball when he gets home, Barrington said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m already indoctrinating them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After Jones announced his move, Barrington said he talked with his wife and decided to apply for the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI missed basketball,\u201d he said. \u201cI saw an opportunity to get back into it. Thankfully I was hired.\u201d<\/p>\n
Early challenges<\/p>\n
Barrington\u2019s Bulldogs won\u2019t exactly ease into the season.<\/p>\n
Baker starts with three games in three days against Class 5A schools at the Crook County Invite tournament in Prineville.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Barrington said he\u2019s excited about continuing the regional rivalry with Crook County, even though the Cowboys have moved up from Class 4A to 5A this season.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 the closest of Baker\u2019s three wins in the event.<\/p>\n
The Cowboys return several players, including Bryce Lowenbach, who scored 23 points in the state tournament game.<\/p>\n
Barrington is familiar with the Cowboys \u2014 Crook County coach Jason Mumm is a former teammate at EOU.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go way back,\u201d Barrington said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s glad that Baker will start with three games against larger schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to test them early and I want to test them later,\u201d he said. \u201cI want every game to be a challenge. That builds character.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barrington said 27 players are in the program, which includes JV and JV2 squads.<\/p>\n
He credits Jones with overseeing Baker\u2019s AAU basketball program, which has created a \u201cpipeline\u201d of players who start playing together in elementary school.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s part of Jebron\u2019s legacy,\u201d Barrington said. \u201cWe have younger players who are hungry and ready to go. We\u2019re going to be a program to contend with going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baker opens its home schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 9, against Enterprise at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Baker boys basketball schedule<\/p>\n
Dec. 4: at Crook County, 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 5: vs. Bend (at Crook County High School), 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 6: vs. Mazama (at Crook County High School), 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 9: vs. Enterprise, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 11: at Vale, 6 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 16: vs. Homedale, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 18: at McCall-Donnelly, 11 a.m. PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 29-31: at Stayton tournament, opponents, times TBD<\/p>\n
Jan. 3: vs. Parma, time TBD<\/p>\n
Jan. 6: at Homedale, 6:30 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Jan. 9: at Cole Valley, 6:30 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Jan. 13: vs. Vale, 7 p..m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 15: at Pendleton, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 20: at La Grande, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: at Junction City, time TBD<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: at Marist Catholic, 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: vs. Ontario, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 3: vs. Riverside, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: vs. Pendleton, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 10: vs. Nyssa, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 13: vs. La Grande, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 19: at Ontario, 6:30 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Feb. 21: at The Dalles, 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Baker girls basketball<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs return several players from the team that finished third at the state tournament in March 2025.<\/p>\n
Dec. 4: vs. Seaside at Crook County High School), 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 5-6: at Crook County tournament, opponents, times TBD<\/p>\n
Dec. 9: vs. Enterprise, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 16: at Fruitland, 6 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 18: vs. Elma, Washington (at Seaside tournament), time TBD<\/p>\n
Dec. 19-20: at Seaside tournament, opponents, times TBD<\/p>\n
Dec. 29-31: at Stayton tournament, opponents, times TBD<\/p>\n
Jan. 3: vs. Parma, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 6: vs. Burns, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 13: at Vale, 4:30 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Jan. 15: at Pendleton, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 17: vs. Fruitland, 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 20: at La Grande, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: at Junction City, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: at Marist Catholic, 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: vs. Ontario, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 3: vs. Riverside, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: vs. Pendleton, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 13: vs. La Grande, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 14: vs. The Dalles, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 19: at Ontario, 5 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Baker boys wrestling<\/p>\n
Dec. 5: dual with Nampa Christian, at Baker<\/p>\n
Dec. 12-13: Muilenburg tournament at La Grande<\/p>\n
Dec. 20: White Buffalo Invite at Madras<\/p>\n
Dec. 29-30: Sierra Nevada Classic at Reno, Nevada<\/p>\n
Jan. 2: Pendleton duals at Pendleton<\/p>\n
Jan. 10: Hood River Valley dual at Hood River<\/p>\n
Jan. 16-17: Oregon Wrestling Classic, Redmond<\/p>\n
Jan. 20: vs. Ontario at Baker<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: Grant Union tournament<\/p>\n
Jan. 27: vs. La Grande at Baker<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: at Pendleton<\/p>\n
Feb. 14-15: District tournament at Madras<\/p>\n
Baker girls wrestling<\/p>\n
Dec. 6: Ardis Nash tournament at Homedale, Idaho<\/p>\n
Dec. 12-13: Safeway Buckle Classic at La Grande<\/p>\n
Dec. 19: Lady Buffalo Invite at Madras<\/p>\n
Dec. 29-30: Sierra Nevada Classic at Reno, Nevada<\/p>\n
Jan. 2-3: Rollie Lane Invitational at Boise<\/p>\n
Jan. 9-10: Jay Bird tournament at Nampa, Idaho<\/p>\n
Jan. 17: Battle in the Blue tournament at College Place, Washington<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: Grant Union tournament<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: Harrisburg tournament<\/p>\n
Feb. 7: Irrigon tournament <\/p>\n
Powder Valley boys basketball<\/p>\n
Dec. 5: vs. Jordan Valley (at Ontario High School), noon PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 5: at Ontario High School, opponent TBD, 6 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 6: at Ontario High School, opponent, time TBD<\/p>\n
Dec. 11: vs. Weston-McEwen (Calvin Hiatt Invitational at Powder Valley), 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 11-13: Calvin Hiatt Invitational, opponents, times TBD<\/p>\n
Dec. 18: vs. Echo (at Pilot Rock High School), 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 19: vs. Nixyaawii (at Pilot Rock High School), noon<\/p>\n
Dec. 20: vs. Mapleton (at Pilot Rock High School), 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 30: at Imbler, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 3: vs. Weston-McEwen, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 9: vs. Prairie City\/Burnt River, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 10: at Wallowa, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 16: vs. Union, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 17: vs. Pine Eagle, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan 20: at Grant Union, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: at Joseph, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: at Pine Eagle, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: vs. Wallowa, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: vs. Crane, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 7: vs. Elgin, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 12: at Union, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 14: vs. Joseph, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Powder Valley girls basketball<\/p>\n
Dec. 5: vs. Jordan Valley (at Ontario High School), 2 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 5-6: at Ontario High School, opponents TBD, 6 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Dec. 11-13: Calvin Hiatt Invitational at Powder Valley High School, opponents, times TBD<\/p>\n
Dec. 18: vs. Echo (at Pilot Rock High School), 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 19: vs. Nixyaawii (at Pilot Rock High School), 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 20: vs. Mapleton (at Pilot Rock High School), 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 30: at Imbler, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 3: vs. Weston-McEwen, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 9: vs. Prairie City\/Burnt River, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 10: at Wallowa, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 16: vs. Union, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 17: vs. Pine Eagle, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 20: at Grant Union, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: at Elgin, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: at Joseph, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: at Pine Eagle, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: vs. Wallowa, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: vs. Crane, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 7: vs. Elgin, 2 p.m<\/p>\n
Feb. 12: at Union, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 14: vs. Joseph, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Pine Eagle boys basketball<\/p>\n
Dec. 18: vs. Four Rivers, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 19: at Enterprise, 7:30 p.m<\/p>\n
Dec. 20: alumni game at Pine Eagle, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 29: vs. Pilot Rock (at Nixyaawii High School), 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 31: at Nixyaawii, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 3: at Four Rivers, 4:30 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Jan. 8: at Dayville\/Monument\/Long Creek (Monument High School), 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 9: at Union, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 16: vs. Joseph, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 17: at Powder Valley, 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 22: vs. Salmon River, Idaho, 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: vs. Wallowa, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: vs. Powder Valley, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: at Union, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: at Joseph, 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 7: at Wallowa, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 13: vs. Elgin (senior night), 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Pine Eagle girls basketball<\/p>\n
Dec. 18: vs. Four Rivers, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 19: at Enterprise, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 20: alumni game at Pine Eagle, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 29: vs. Pilot Rock (at Nixyaawii High School), 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dec. 31: vs. Nixyaawii, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 3: at Four Rivers, 4 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Jan. 8: at Dayville\/Monument\/Long Creek (Monument High School), 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 9: at Union, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 16: vs. Joseph, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 17: at Powder Valley, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 23: vs. Elgin, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: vs. Wallowa, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 29: vs. Adrian, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: vs. Powder Valley, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: vs. Union, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 6: at Joseph, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 7: at Wallowa, 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 13: vs. Elgin, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Huntington boys basketball<\/p>\n
Dec. 6: vs. Crane, 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 10: vs. Griswold, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 24: at Jordan Valley, noon PST<\/p>\n
Jan. 30: vs. Prairie City\/Burnt River, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: at Four Rivers, 2 p.m. PST<\/p>\n
Feb. 13: vs. Jordan Valley, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Feb. 14: at Dayville\/Monument\/Long Creek (Monument High School), 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Huntington girls basketball<\/p>\n
Jan. 10: vs. Griswold, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Jan. 31: at Four Rivers, 5 p.m. PST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Robert Barrington concedes that his return to competitive basketball after a seven-year hiatus, as the new varsity head…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":320803,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-320802","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-basketball","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-basketball","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320802"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320802\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/320803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=320802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}