By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – The city series confrontation between the Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern boys basketball teams is certainly an intriguing one.

The teams meet tonight in the final game of the Bristol Central Holiday Classic for the first time in 2023-24.

Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium.

Both programs have extreme similarities and, of course, multiple differences.

Adding a little more hype to this outstanding matchup, there’s a couple additional items to consider as game time approaches:

What do the two schools have in common?

Both programs have yet to play a game from home, believe it or not.

Thanks to the schedule maker, ‘Gas Guzzling’ Dave Greenleaf (you’ve earned your fate, sir), the Rams and Lancers have started all of their games on the road – six total in all.

This has never happened before, at least for Eastern, who won’t have a home game until January 5 against Tolland.

Give credit to the Bristol programs as they’ve combined for a 4-2 overall ledger through six games and are undefeated against the teams from Meriden (Maloney and Platt).

So, what a way for Central to make its 2023-24 home debut – squaring off against rival Bristol Eastern.

“They’re going to give us their best shot,” said Eastern coach Ray of Central. “It’s going to be a different game than [the most recent one at Platt] for sure.”

What do the two schools not have in common?

*Eastern is an experienced crew, taking its lumps over the years and expects 2023-24 to be its year.

After three games, the Lancers are averaging 67.0 points-per-game – the most since 1993-94 (68.0 points-per-game).

It’s a small sample space but at the current rate, those numbers puts the team’s scoring in line with that talented crew from Ray’s senior year (18-4 overall record, CCC South champs).

Defensively, the Lancers allow opponents just 53.3 ppg on 37-percent shooting from the field.

Central averages about five points less than that average but Barrette and company are going to bring the defense and expect this game to be a real mess.

One last thing, when it comes to BC/BE confrontations, throw all the records out the window.

And now, you can disregard everything that has been written about this game due to that very fact.

“Coach Barrette will have them ready,” said Ray. “Our job is to go out and just execute, stay healthy and do the things that we need to do.”

This is going to be a fun game so buckle up.

The Streak: Over the last ten games, Central has won eight of those bouts. The Lancers’ two wins against the Rams have been by a combined 11 points. The programs split the season series last year, winning in the opponent’s gymnasium. 

Here’s how the scores have gone over the past ten games between Central and Eastern:

Date                            Winner/Score                        Deficit 

Feb. 20, 2023              Bristol Central/59-52              7 

Dec. 27, 2022              Bristol Eastern/49-44              5 

Feb. 21, 2022              Bristol Central/76-50              26 

Dec. 28, 2021              Bristol Central/73-24              49 

March 19, 2021           Bristol Central/50-26              24 

Feb. 12, 2021              Bristol Central/66-51              15 

Feb. 24, 2020              Bristol Central/60-34              26 

Jan. 24, 2020               Bristol Central/75-36              39 

Feb. 18, 2019              Bristol Eastern/57-51              6 

Jan. 18, 2019               Bristol Central/47-39              8 

Schedule of Events – 2023 Bristol Central Holiday Classic (December 27)

Game 1: Gilbert (3-1) vs. Canton (1-1) girls – 2:30 p.m.

*Gilbert lost to Central last season at the tournament by a 63-30 final.

Game 2: Capital Prep (1-2) vs. Simsbury (0-3) boys – 4 p.m.

*Simsbury’s last defeat was a 63-62 overtime thriller against Farmington on December 21.

Game 3: Platt (0-4) vs. Bristol Central (2-2) girls – 5:30 p.m.

*Platt is currently 0-4, averaging just 18.3 points-per-game.

Game 4: Bristol Central (1-2) vs. Bristol Eastern (3-0) boys – 7 p.m.

*The 14-point victory for Central over Maloney on December 21 was the opening season win for the program.

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