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Date: 6/30/2021
SPRINGFIELD – The Western Mass Zombies basketball team recently won the Mid-Atlantic Championship and was advanced to the Super Cup Championship in North Carolina on June 26, where they eventually lost with a close score of 129 to 133. The team is a part of the East Coast Basketball League under the Mid-Atlantic Division which consists of teams from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.
After starting their 2021 season back in late February, the Western Mass Zombies have excelled and will now be playing against the Primetime Players team for the Super Cup Championship title.
Western Mass Zombies was founded in 2018 by Bill and Nichole Bullock. Bullock said that he has a background in sports marketing and worked in the field for many years before switching to advertising. He said he eventually ended up missing sports and decided to start the Western Mass Zombies with his wife.
“I discussed with my wife and we decided this was something that we wanted to do here locally, so we formed the Western Mass Zombies,” said Bullock.
The Western Mass Zombies consists of all semi-professional players who have college basketball experience or have played overseas. Bullock said they are usually in their early 20s and up and that the team consists of a lot of local players from Massachusetts and Connecticut.
“These are all guys that are looking to further their basketball career and play at a competitive level,” he said.
Western Mass Zombies play their home games at the South End Community Center located at 99 Marble St. in Springfield.
“We want to really build this team to be a long-term thing. Springfield’s the birthplace of basketball so we want something that’s going to be consistently here and kind of build on it and build some community relations programs, do some camps and clinics and stuff like that,” said Bullock.
After the Super Cup Championship, the Western Mass Zombies will be hosting the All Star Game on July 10 in Springfield. The event will bring together the teams of the Mid-Atlantic Division for a 3-point contest, a slam dunk contest and the All-Star game.
Those interested in purchasing tickets for the All Star Game are encouraged to visit Western Mass Zombie’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WesternMassZombies.
Bullock said that Western Mass Zombie games are something everyone should experience.
“It’s one of those things you’ve gotta come out and experience. It’s fun, it’s inexpensive, tickets are only $10 and you’ll have a good time. Anyone that’s come to a game, we’ve never heard any complaints.”
He also noted that they are great events for the entire family.
“You kind of get lost in a game, especially if you have kids with young families. These kids look up to them like they’re with the Celtics because they don’t know the difference. They see them out on the court playing and getting doused with water after winning the MVP and then all of a sudden you’re getting their autograph at the end of the game,” he said. “It’s perfect because the Celtics prices are ridiculous. We’re $10, it’s free parking, it’s really a fun family environment.”
After the 2021 season ends, Bullock said that they will begin their next season in Feb. 2022. During the off season, he noted that the team is interested in putting together clinics, camps, another try-out event and a possible tournament in either the summer or fall.
The Western Mass Zombies have also recently hired Rick Barry of the NBA Hall of Fame to join their front office staff in 2022. Barry will work as a special assistant and advisor to the team.
“It’s huge to help us get some recognition out there. It’s huge for the connections that he might be able to help some of our players to get them opportunities to go overseas and even further their playing career,” said Bullock.
Bullock also owns a Springfield-based business called Zombie Hideout, which specializes in comics, gaming and more. Information and future updates on the Western Mass Zombies can be found on the store’s website at https://www.zombie-hideout.com/.