It’s a basketball blitz: 130 teams to play out Wangaratta junior hoops tourney

More than 130 teams, 1400 players and in excess of 5000 people are expected to be swept up in a weekend of basketball fever for the Wangaratta Junior Basketball Tournament starting on Friday. Since returning to home soil last year the tournament has come on in leaps and bounds. Between up to three divisions of under 10s, 12, 14s, 16s and 18s boys and girls there will be 133 teams from right across Victoria descending on Wangaratta and the North East, as just about every basketball court within 40km radius will be in use. Wangaratta Basketball president Adam Maher said despite some sleepless nights and last-minute alterations, everything was on schedule. “I haven't slept for a week and a half, but that's okay; it's all worth it once you see all the kids on the floor,” he said. “We've got our under-10s back again this year, including under-10 girls, which we didn't have last year, and we've got a Wangaratta team in there. “We've got a lot more division three teams as well this year as we go down in the grades… we've got more under-18 girls coming this year, it’s always good to see female participation on the rise. “It's always a bit of a stress at the start but it’s exciting.” The Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre will be the hub of the tournament, with games to be played at all three Wangaratta secondary schools, Myrtleford Indoor Sports Stadium, Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre and Benalla P-12 College. Maher said the committee took a gamble moving the tournament from November to October in order to avoid a clash with other November tournaments in Geelong and Shepparton. It looks to have paid dividends in the lead up, with an increase of seven teams and more registered players this year. “It was three weekends in a row, and parents don't adjust to that anymore,” Maher said. “Unfortunately, the one thing we didn't find out in time was that Benalla's main stadium has a 'come and try' day on, so on Sunday we don't have access to that facility for the day. “It's a massive task getting a tournament of this scale up and running and we'll have a meeting straight after this weekend and decide whether it's going to stay in October.” Wangaratta will be well represented with 14 teams overall across each of the grades. A handful of those teams dusted off their final preparations at training on Wednesday and Maher said he was excited to see what the local talent could do at their home tournament. “They all look pumped and ready to go,” he said. Tournament tip-off will take place straight after school goes out for the weekend on Friday night, running until finals on Sunday.