Local hoops comps underway

BENDIGO Basketball welcomed back participants on Friday as its summer season kicked off.

Under the State Government’s COVID-19 roadmap, all patrons to Bendigo Stadium must be fully vaccinated and the 10-court stadium will operate with a 500-person capacity.

Basketball manager for the BBA Sam Cartwright said regardless of a delayed start and some restrictions, the season will run close to normal.

“We’ve had an extended entry process, we generally kick off early October with the school term, so being delayed a month we’ve had a lot of movement for teams,” he said.

“Team numbers are great, we’re pretty close to pre-pandemic maximums, so the participation angle is really good. Everyone’s champing at the bit to get back at it and we are too.”

Some 450 teams will compete in the domestic competition across juniors and seniors, not far off the record number of 470 teams competing.

Mr Cartwright said while interest in basketball usually increases during an Olympic year, the disruptions to community sport have slightly dampened momentum.

However, he is confident that all participants enjoy what Bendigo basketball has to offer, and with local product Dyson Daniels recently making his NBA G-League debut, the pathways for juniors know no bounds.

“Summer is definitely the time for basketball,” Cartwright.

“Across country Victoria, basketball is if not the most but close to the highest participation sport in the summer months.

“With local success like Dyson Daniels, it does highlight the pathway we can offer our junior athletes and we love the fact we can provide an elite pathway here in Bendigo for the whole region.”