Who’s ready for some Country basketball action?
CBL is back for another exciting year! The season tips off this Saturday (Oct 1) and it is sure to bring fireworks. All of Victoria’s regional rising stars are set to take the court in the quest for a championship banner.
Let’s look around the league and see who is lining up for your side. We will have plenty of content throughout the season, so if you’re interested in getting your CBL story on our socials and site, send us a direct message on social media! Don’t forget to tag Basketball Victoria and use the #CBL23 hashtag to share your Round 1 highlights with us!
Gippsland
Men
The Traralgon T-Birds will be the team to watch this year after their grand final success last season. The T-Birds placed second after a strong 8-2 season last year and defeated the unbeaten Warragal in the Grand Final. They are set to take on the Lakes Entrance Pelicans who struggled to find form last year. A new season represents an opportunity to improve for Lakes Entrance as they open their season welcoming Wonthaggi on Saturday before also tipping off on Sunday against Traralgon.
The Warragal Warriors were undefeated last season but fell at the last hurdle in the Grand Final. The Warriors will look to dominate the season again and keep the momentum going throughout the finals as well. They will travel to Moe on Sunday for the Round 1 clash. Newcomers Pakenham will start their first-ever CBL season at home against Korumburra on Sunday.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Lakes Entrance v Wonthaggi – 7pm
Sale v Maffra – 7pm
Southern Peninsula v Morwell – 7pm
Sunday 2 October
Maffra v Wonthaggi – 1:30pm
Lakes Entrance v Traralgon – 2pm
Moe v Warragal – 2pm
Pakenham v Korumburra – 2pm
Women
Wonthaggi may have been the biggest surprise champions last year. The Coasters went 5-5 throughout the season and took on the powerhouse T-birds (9-1) in the Grand Final and won. Call it an upset, call it whatever you want, they are the reigning champions and that’s why they are the team to watch in the Gippsland Women Conference this season. They will face the tough task of travelling to Lakes Entrance and Maffra to start their CBL title defence.
Traralgon will be looking to go one better in the 2022/23 season after losing the Grand Final at home at the hands of the Coasters. The T-Birds will once again be loaded with talent and will tip off their CBL season at Lakes Entrance. The Southern Peninsula Sharks and Warragal Warriors are back in the CBL after missing prior seasons due to COVID interruptions. They will face off against one another on Saturday down on the peninsula.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Lakes Entrance v Wonthaggi – 5pm
Sale v Maffra – 5pm
Southern Peninsula v Warragal – 5pm
Sunday 2 October
Maffra v Wonthaggi – 11:30am
Lakes Entrance v Traralgon – 12pm
Moe v Warragal – 12pm
Pakenham v Korumburra – 12pm
North East
Men
Seymour will again be the team to beat after winning back-to-back CBL North East championships. They finished 9-1 for the season and were too much for Benalla in the Grand Final. The Blasters have a bye in Round 1 and will start their quest for three in a row against a returning Shepperton on the road in Round 2. The Albury Cougars are new to the CBL this season and are set to begin their campaign by travelling to Benalla on Saturday. The Breakers will be a difficult first matchup illustrated by their runners-up medals last season.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Wodonga v Wangaratta – 7:30pm
Benalla v Albury – 7:30pm
Sunday 2 October
Wangaratta v Mansfield – 1pm
Shepperton v Myrtleford – 2pm
Bye – Seymour, Wallan
Women
Seymour also won the Grand Final in the women’s competition last season, spoiling the party for Wallan in their own gym. The Blasters will be tough competition again this season and they will mount their title defence just like the Men in Round 2 at Shepperton. The Wallan Panthers will also begin their season in Round 2 at Wodonga after finishing as runners-up in the 2021/22 season. The Wangaratta Warriors are returning to the CBL this year and they are tasked with a trip to Wodonga in Round 1.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Wodonga v Wangaratta – 5:30pm
Shepperton v Myrtleford – 12pm
Bye – Albury, Seymour, Wallan
North West
Men
The Echuca Pirates are the team to watch after securing the top spot and winning the Grand Final last season. They will start their campaign on the road against Melton on Saturday. Maryborough will look to improve after finishing second on the ladder and losing to Bendigo in a semi-final last year. The Blazers will host the Macedon Ranges Rockies in Round 1. The Bendigo Braves were runners-up in the Grand Final last year and they will be aiming to again feature in the last game of the season. They will travel to Bacchus Marsh to tip off their 2022/23 CBL season.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Mildura v Kyneton – 7pm
Maryborough v Macedon Ranges – 7:30pm
Bacchus Marsh v Bendigo – 8pm
Melton v Echuca – 8pm
Sunday 2 October
Swan Hill v Kyneton – 2pm
Maryborough v Castlemaine – 2:30pm
Women
Maryborough will be the team to beat this year after their Grand Final triumph last season. An excitingly close contest saw the Blazers win in the Delly Dome against Bendigo. They will host the Macedon Ranges Rockies in Round 1. It will be a tough first game for the Macedon Ranges’ Women who are competing in the CBL for the first time.
Bendigo will be an interesting team to watch after they knocked off first-placed Castlemaine on their way to the Grand Final last season. They will travel to Bacchus Marsh for their first matchup of the year.
The Melton Thoroughbreds are set to join the CBL for the upcoming season and will host Echuca in their first game.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Mildura v Kyneton – 5pm
Maryborough v Macedon Ranges – 5:30pm
Bacchus Marsh v Bendigo – 6pm
Melton v Echuca – 6pm
Sunday 2 October
Swan Hill v Kyneton – 12pm
South West
Men
Horsham will begin the season as reigning premiers after their miraculous run into the Grand Final. The Hornets finished the regular season 5-5 but were unbeatable in the finals, something they will hope to bring during the regular season this year. They will travel to Warrnambool in Round 2 after a bye in Round 1.
Grand Final runners-up Portland will be a difficult team to face again this season. The Coasters will be on the road on Sunday against Colac. The Colac Kookas finished last season on top of the ladder but were bested by Horsham in their semi-final. They will be strong again this season and will host Warrnambool on Saturday before facing Portland.
Ararat and Millicent are also returning to the CBL after COVID interruptions.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 1 October
Colac v Warrnambool – 6:30pm
Sunday 2 October
Ararat v Warrnambool – 12pm
Colac v Portland – 12:30pm
Surfcoast v Terang – 2pm
Bye – Horsham, Millicent, Mt Gambier
Women
Portland will try to achieve back-to-back championships after defeating Warrnambool in the Grand Final last season. The Coasters proved they could beat anybody last year, defeating first and second on their way to their first CBL championship. They will battle against Mt Gambier in Round 2 after a bye this weekend.
The Surfcoast Chargers and the Terang Tornadoes will play in the only game in Round 1. The teams finished fifth and sixth respectively which should make for an even matchup. They will face off on Sunday on the Surf coast.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Sunday 2 October
Surfcoast v Terang – 12pm
Bye – Horsham, Millicent, Mt Gambier, Portland, Warrnambool
