Lara boasts giant numbers, focuses on new stadium

AN ACTION-packed presentation day has symbolised a major moment for Geelong’s largest basketball club with more teams than ever to represent the club into next year.

Lara Giants Basketball Club president Jason Ahearn said his club’s season presentation nights were always a joyous occasion, as players and teams were recognised for their contributions and successes.

“It’s probably still a hard world at the moment still getting out from under COVID-19, so we hadn’t really had the same opportunities to do an event like this in a long time, so to see their faces fill up with pride when they get a medal or trophy has really made it worthwhile.”

The Giants registered 64 teams in Geelong United’s Basketball Association across all age groups during the winter season, consisting of just under 500 players.

Those numbers are set to grow in anticipation for the coming summer season following the school holidays.

“Lara will have more than 80 teams and 600 players by the start of next season, and we have more numbers coming in as we speak,” Ahearn said.

“We’re trying to be organised, but we had to cut off our registrations for tryouts at the end of August, so now we’re trying to sort out teams.

“Tryouts and team selections are the next step in the process with 80-odd kids in the one age group on average, which we expect to be a bit of a challenge.

“We’ve had to book out Corio Leisuretime Precinct for two full days in the past to assist us with tryouts, so it puts a bit of stress on us to get a good look at everyone.”

Ahearn’s comments reflect the growing need for a new facility in the region’s north as Lara continues to boast extraordinary numbers.

Giants vice-president Lorraine Kulic said the club was forming a business case for the feasibility of a new stadium at North Geelong’s Beckley Park.

“The Lara Giants Basketball Club enters a significant component of teams with the Geelong United Basketball Association, the biggest association in regional Australia.

“Lara as a suburb has seen massive growth, our club is growing faster than the town’s population, with more kids in Lara playing basketball than any other sport.

“We hire school halls to train, we have not one central location for storage and struggle for venues to hold meetings and our uniform and presentation days .

“We are dedicated to our members and to the care and consideration we give to our array of specialised programs covering all abilities and juniors.

“A stadium would enable us to provide all these opportunities and more for our members and the wider community.”

Kulic said the club posed a question at the City of Greater Geelong’s council meeting held on Tuesday this week.

The final step to the new facility occurs once financing is sourced and the club can enter the tender process for construction.