Home court advantage for Anglesea Aireys

L-R: Anglesea Aireys players Mia Gavens, Nikki Rogers, Olivia Balazs, Audrey-Rose Wilson, Milly Charles, and Olivia Thompson. Photo: SUPPLIED

A MAJOR win for Anglesea Aireys Basketball Club has the local basketball organisation excited, with added flexibility expected to grow the game locally.

Anglesea Aireys Basketball Club secretary Simon Villani says the ability for the club to now host games in Anglesea will pay massive dividends for the sport of basketball on the Surf Coast.

“We’ve been up and going now for about three years and we’ve only just coordinated being able to host games here at Anglesea Primary School and it’s been great for the community and not having to travel so far to play,” Villani said.

“We have so many kids that have had to travel to Torquay every Monday and Wednesday to play basketball, but now they can ride their bikes up the road. It’s a great development to them.”

The club was advised by the Surfcoast Basketball Association (SBA) at the start of the domestic winter season it would be allowed to host basketball games closer to home, rather than in Torquay.

Anglesea Aireys currently has 14 registered teams across junior and senior level competitions in both male and female divisions ranging from Under 9’s to Open age groups.

The club also caters to communities in Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven, Bellbrae, Moggs Creek, and as far as Lorne for families located further down the coast.

Villani said the lone court at Anglesea Primary will provide some relief for the SBA, which is consistently at capacity with participation based out Wurdi Baierr Stadium.

As current fixturing stands, the additional court will host three games on a Monday night and three games on a Thursday night, but a provision is in place to expand.

“It all comes down to the growth of the game here on the Surf Coast, we have massive participation rates down here, but we are lacking the court space.

“The SBA has helped us massively to make this possible and we’re really happy to be able to help them this way in return.

“Obviously, if things go well at the school, more basketball could be played here in Anglesea, but we’re taking the stance of walking before running.”

To enquire about joining Anglesea Aireys, email [email protected].