By Mikayla van Loon
The Victorian Championship (VC) junior basketball league teams have been announced for 2022, with the best under-12 to under-18 VJBL teams cementing their place in the top division.
From 1202 teams registered for the 2021/2022 VJBL competition, the top 160 teams spanning 34 of the 51 associations have qualified for the VC competition.
Kilsyth, alongside Bulleen, Casey and Nunawading, has led the qualification with nine teams set to feature in VC in 2022.
Representing Kilsyth will be an under 12 boys team, two under 12 girls teams and boys and girls teams in the under 14, 16 and 18 age groups.
Kilsyth Basketball Association’s basketball operations manager and coaching director Mark Watkins said this was a great reward for all the players and coaches after a disrupted two years.
“It’s a really good sign of the depth the club has and we’re being rewarded for all the hard work that we put in,” he said.
Mr Watkins said the training and playing programs at Kilsyth are very similar across the age groups meaning players have consistency in drills, offensive and defensive plays and skill sets – something that helped players get through the pandemic and into VC.
“If we’re ever locked down or there’s a period of time that we’re not together, then that doesn’t matter because we can refresh all the things we do quite quickly and the kids pick it up quite well.
“Whenever we change seasons, the kids have got a basic knowledge of what our style of play is and so that helps them progress into the next team with a new coach.”
With 20 teams per age group and gender qualifying for VC, the final select group of U12-U18 teams finished up their qualifications on Friday 4 March and will take their places in the VC first round, tipping off on Friday 11 March.
With a diverse mix of metropolitan and country associations VC represents the toughest, most challenging junior basketball division in the country and Mr Watkins said teams could be travelling to Ballarat, Geelong and Gippsland to compete.
“We’re all going to have to play very well to win a championship. They’re not easy to win but I think we’ve got some good teams that can possibly do that this year,” he said.
The VC competition is a great pathway for young players to get to the NBA, WNBA and the NBL and Kilsyth’s players are excited to get back out there to play against the best in the state.
VJBL Manager Adrian Campbell said despite a couple of difficult years in VJBL across 2020 and 2021, the associations have picked up where they left off to make 2022 a hotly contested season.
“It’s been an impressive season already and there’s a lot of excitement around 2022 VC teams,” Mr Campbell said.
“Our VJBL associations have shone to produce some brilliant basketball in qualifying for the VC competition.
“Whether they’re competing for VC titles or showing their skills in the VJBL divisions, we’d like to wish all the VJBL teams the best of luck for the season ahead.”
The 2021/2022 VJBL season will conclude on 16 September, with the VC Grand Final night following the VC season.
