The Bedford High School boys varsity basketball team is gearing up to defend its state title. After capturing the 2024–2025 Division I Championship, the Bulldogs are focused on repeating their success this winter.
Last season, Bedford finished the regular season with an impressive 15–3 record, earning the top playoff seed and a first-round bye. In the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs faced the ninth-seeded Windham Jaguars and secured a solid seven-point victory. They then advanced to the semifinals, where they edged out the fifth-seeded Exeter Blue Hawks in a tight three-point win. That victory sent them to the championship game against the sixth-seeded Keene Blackbirds.
Bedford’s dominant postseason run was fueled largely by its strong offensive play. Connor O’Rourke—now playing Division II basketball at Saint Anselm College—led the Bulldogs with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Wiji Dak and Landon Ellsmore each pulled down 11 boards, while Logan O’Connell added nine points and six rebounds. Ultimately, Bedford’s balanced attack secured a narrow 51–50 victory over Keene, earning the team the state championship.
Heading into this season, Bedford will be without three key starters—Connor O’Rourke, Jack Hinton, and Wiji Dak—each of whom played major roles in last year’s title run. Still, the Bulldogs return a strong and experienced core. Seniors Landon Ellsmore and Logan O’Connell, along with junior Ali Shoukeir, are expected to provide leadership and stability. Sophomores Luke O’Connell and Ryan O’Rourke also return after gaining varsity minutes as freshmen, bringing size, athleticism, and continued development. Together, this group forms the foundation of Bedford’s pursuit of another championship season.
The Bulldogs opened their 2025–2026 campaign on December 12 at home against the Trinity Pioneers. Later in the season, they will face tough matchups against the Exeter Blue Hawks and Nashua South Panthers. Near the end of the schedule, they will once again take on the runner-up Keene Blackbirds, who will surely be eager for redemption after last year’s narrow defeat. One anticipated matchup missing from the regular-season schedule is Portsmouth, a team with a similarly talented young core.
With a challenging slate ahead and the pressure of being defending champions, Bedford knows this season will test the team. But with a talented returning group and momentum from last year’s title run, the Bulldogs enter the winter confident in their ability to compete at the highest level. As December 12 approaches, they are eager to take the court and once again prove why they are one of Division I’s premier programs.
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