BASKETBALL Victoria Country (BVC) is preparing for the 2020/21 Country Basketball League (CBL) season across regional Victoria, with a tip-off pencilled in for October 10.
BVC general manager, David Huxtable, said cautious optimism was prevailing despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and team entries were up on previous seasons.
“Associations are telling us that they are very committed to the 2020/21 CBL season,” he said.
In the North East CBL, the Shepparton Gators are represented across the male and female competition and are also in the midst of planning for the upcoming season.
Shepparton Gators president, Michelle Judd, said while the timeline for starting senior competition looked ambitious, the club had received about 50 expressions of interest from players, and the club had named coaches.
Matt Bartlett will coach the men’s team and Darren Burn will take the helm of the women’s team.
Judd said if senior competition was untenable, she hoped a junior competition could continue.
Seven teams will compete for the northeast conference female championship, and eight teams, including newcomers the Mansfield Eagles, will compete in the men’s competition.
“With most sports cancelling their senior leagues, basketball is keen to demonstrate their strength and value to the local community,” Huxtable said.
“Everybody has been doing it hard and we are looking at basketball to assist in driving economic results for their community.”
