Junior championships make first appearance in Bacchus Marsh

THE Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Bacchus Marsh will host a round of Basketball Victoria’s 2025 Junior Country Championships in March for the first time.

Two venues at nearby Melton – Cobblebank Indoor Stadium and the Melton Indoor Recreation Centre – will also host matches.

It will also be the first time that Melton has hosted championships games.

Basketball Victoria has locked in 15 and 16 March as the days for the Under 16 and Under 18 Division 3, Division 4 and Division 5 games at the three venues.

Its country competitions officer, Sarah Szczykulski, said she is eagerly anticipating the tournament, matches in which will also be played in Bendigo and Ballarat.

“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,” Ms Szczkulski 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, spanning divisions from 1 to 5.

All regional Victorian affiliated associations are eligible to nominate teams for the competition.

Basketball Victoria hails the event as providing a great opportunity for athletes, coaches and families to experience high-level competitive basketball while developing their skills.

A permanent fixture on the organisation’s calendar since the late 1960s, the championships have consistently served as a launching pad for country players who have gone on to achieve national and international acclaim.

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

Last year’s tournament was contested by 337 teams over four weekends in the first three months of the year in a round robin format.

A series of knockout rounds and grand finals determined the various category winners.

Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena will host Under 16 and Under 18 Division 1 and 2 games on 15 and 16 February, and Under 12 rounds on 11, 12 and 13 April.

Selkirk Stadium in Ballarat will be the venue for Under 14 competition on 5, 6 and 7 April.