Best young country basketballers heading to Ballarat

BALLARAT’S Selkirk Stadium will host a round of the Basketball Victoria 2025 Junior Country Championships in April.

Tournament games in the Under 14 category will be played at the venue on 5, 6 and 7 April.

Ballarat Basketball Association CEO Neville Ivey said he cannot wait to host the matches.

“Basketball Ballarat is thrilled to bring the Junior Country Championships back to the Ballarat region,” he said.

“It will be great to see the best Under 14s showcase their skills at regional Victoria’s premier basketball facility.

“These championships also represent a significant boost to the economy.”

Apart from Ballarat, Basketball Victoria announced that the other host venues will be the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) in Bacchus Marsh, Red Energy Arena in Bendigo, Cobblebank Indoor Stadium Melton and the Melton Indoor Recreation Centre.

Bacchus Marsh and Melton will be hosting tournament games for the first time, in the Under 16 and Under 18, Divisions 3, 4 and 5 categories.

Last year’s championships featured 337 of the best young teams from country Victoria, with competition held over four weekends in a round robin format.

A series of knockout rounds and grand final matches determined category champions.

The championships are held annually for boys and girls in the Under 12 to Under 18 age groups, spanning divisions from 1 to 5.

All regional Victorian affiliated associations are eligible to nominate teams for the event, which Basketball Victoria describes as a great opportunity for athletes, coaches and families to experience high-level competitive basketball, helping to elevate and develop players’ skills.

The championships have been a permanent fixture on Basketball Victoria’s calendar since the late 1960s, and have consistently served as a launching pad for country athletes to national and international representation.

Notable alumni include Jack White, Jade Melbourne, Dyson and Dash Daniels, Jaz Shelley, Matthew Dellavedova, Shaun Bruce and Mitchell Creek.

Basketball Victoria country competitions officer Sarah Szczykulski said she is eagerly awaiting the start of competition.

“It’s so good to see the country junior athletes given the opportunity to take to the court and play against teams from across Victoria,” she said.

“The families all make such a big effort and some travel huge distances to support their young basketballers.”

The Bacchus Marsh and Melton games will take place on 15 and 16 March.