Young country basketball stars headed for Bendigo

BASKETBALL Victoria’s 2025 Junior Country Championships will come to the Red Energy Arena on 15 and 16 February and again in April as Bendigo once again hosts tournament matches.

The Under 16 and Under 18 Division 1 and Division 2 competitions are scheduled for the February dates, while the Under 12 matches will take place on 11, 12 and 13 April.

Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and two venues in Melton will also host championship rounds – the Melton and Bacchus Marsh venues for the first time.

Bendigo hosted the championships with Mildura last year.

General manager – sport at Red Energy Arena, Craig Armstead, said the venue had hosted the championships for a number of years and was looking forward to doing so again.

“It’s a fantastic event,” he said.

Mr Armstead said it brought many high-quality athletes to the city and allowed spectators to see young players at their best.

“It’s great for our local basketball community to come along and see and compete and see other very talented athletes,” he said.

“It has a broader flow-on economic benefit to the broader Bendigo region and businesses in town.”.

Four Bendigo teams are entered in the Under 16 and Under 18 boys and girls divisions.

“It’s a really high quality competition,” he said.

Basketball Victoria country competitions officer Sarah Szczykulski said she is eagerly anticipating the event.

“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 championships are held annually for boys and girls in the Under 12 to Under 18 age groups, from divisions 1 to 5. All regional Victorian affiliated associations are eligible to nominate teams.

Basketball Victoria describes the competition as an opportunity for athletes, coaches and families to experience high-level competitive basketball while helping players develop their skills.

It has been a permanent fixture on the organisation’s calendar since the late 1960s, and has consistently served as a launching pad for national and international careers.

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

A total of 337 of the best teams from throughout country Victoria competed in the tournament last year.

Competition was conducted in a round robin format, culminating in a series of knockout rounds and grand final matches to determine category champions.

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

All the details about the championships are available at basketballvictoria.com.au/jcc/home.