Country ball is back!
Our first senior league to return from lockdown, the Country Basketball League brings together the best of the Regional Victorian rising stars and home-town champions all in your town!
Let’s take a look around the league and see who is lining up for your side and to keep an eye on as we tip this off on Saturday! 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 #CBL22 hashtag to share your Round 1 highlights with us!
GIPPSLAND CONFERENCE - MEN
Maffra is set to star with many of its reigning champions returning for the runback on the title. Sam Whelan and James Whelan, who has taken over as coach following Kaleb Sclater stepping aside after the grand final, alongside rising stars Coby Burgiel and Jack Hrehoresen form a potent core for the Eagles. Hosting Sale at home on Saturday night will be a great test of the Eagles’ championship credentials right off the bat.
Also part of last year’s Gippsland Conference Men’s grand final, gunning for another shot at the CBL championship, the D’Angelos are back home at Traralgon and ready to shine alongside Frazar Brouns and Zac Bezzina. The T-Birds will host Lakes Entrance on Saturday night. Moe has picked up Harrison Pepper who returns to basketball after time in the AFL with Hawthorn and also features Jayden and Ben Van Dyk.
Korumburra will be ably led by the Mabilias – Zac and Brodie – in the mix alongside Nick Prowd, while Churchill returns with Jordan Canovan committing to his home association with Nick Sedley, Seb Fontaine and Ryan Canovan as the Sonics will head across to battle the Blue Devils on Sunday.
Wonthaggi is set to make its debut in CBL action on Saturday night away at Warragul, before hosting Korumburra at home for the first time with Victorian representative Jet Garnham one of the shining stars of the CBL to watch.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Traralgon v Lakes Entrance – 7pm
Warragul v Wonthaggi – 7.30pm
Maffra v Sale Sonics – 8pm
Sunday 28 November
Churchill v Sale – 1pm
Moe v Warragul – 1pm
Wonthaggi v Korumburra – 2pm
GIPPSLAND CONFERENCE - WOMEN
Traralgon looks likely to lead the pack with League superstar Samantha Labros and Tanarly Hood returning to the T-Birds in their return from hiatus in 2021/22. Victorian representatives Sienna Privitera, Asha Nightingale and Emily Scholtes add even more power to the T-Birds across the roster.
Jaime Gallatly is fresh off a bottom-age campaign at the Australian Junior Championships and is set for a bumper 2022 with Maffra while Chloe Hogg and Macey McGlead are part of a youthful Korumburra core. Abby Cornish, Ella Cornish and Caitlin Demczuk return to keep the Meteors soaring.
Lakes Entrance will add a women’s team to the league for the first time and will feature a good mix of experience and youth across the board.
Also joining the league for the first time will be Wonthaggi women, with the Coasters set to host Korumburra on debut on Sunday afternoon.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Traralgon v Lakes Entrance – 5pm
Maffra v Sale Sonics – 6pm
Sunday 28 November
Traralgon v Sale – 12pm
Wonthaggi v Korumburra – 2pm
SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE – MEN
Jordan Lingard is taking the coaching board in between dunks and will lead Colac on and off the court alongside Rhys Lemke, Conner Hultgren and rising star, Victorian representative Brady Hall. Squaring off against Terang on the road before hosting Horsham on Sunday afternoon, the Kookas will be out to impress this weekend against their highly-rated opponents.
Sam Breuer and Jake Hobbs are just a couple of exciting prospects in the Horsham lineup that will head off to Colac on Sunday.
Surfcoast will debut on Saturday against Warrnambool before hosting its first home clash next weekend at the incredible Wurdi Baierr Stadium.
Jack Huxtable is taking the reins at Warrnambool and has plenty of young stars to work with at the Seahawks. Jarra Blackney-Noter and Riley Nicolson have plenty of upside and will take the Bool far this season.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Warrnambool v Surfcoast – 7.30pm
Portland v Mt Gambier – 8pm
Terang v Colac – 8pm
Sunday 28 November
Colac v Horsham – 1pm
Terang v Mt Gambier – 2pm
Warrnambool v Portland – 2pm
SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE - WOMEN
Bringing our competition back to eight conferences, The South West’s Women’s competition returns in 2021/22!
Nicola Handreck is an amazing pick up for Ellen Zeunert’s Coasters line-up in the South West Women’s Conference. The collegiate star is coming home and is set to create headaches across the South West, starting this weekend against Mt Gambier at home and Warrnambool on the road.
Lou Brown, Molly McKinnon, Katie O’Keefe and some young stars including Mia Mills… legitimate threats across the court for Warrnambool and always intimidating in this conference. Keep an eye on the Mermaids!
Surfcoast joins the conference with all eyes on the Charges in their debut season – always fantastic to see the league expand and bring new areas and new road trips to the CBL!
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Warrnambool v Surfcoast – 5.30pm
Portland v Mt Gambier – 6pm
Terang v Colac – 6pm
Sunday 28 November
Terang v Mt Gambier – 12pm
Warrnambool v Portland – 12pm
NORTH EAST CONFERENCE – MEN
Seymour is set to open its championship defence on the road against Wallan – with the two traditional powerhouses of the North East Conference ready to launch the first salvo.
Grand Final MVP Tom O’Connor is back for his beloved Blasters alongside Robbie Sartori, Jack Murphy and Liam Hockley to highlight just a few of the weapons in the Seymour arsenal. But the Panthers won’t be without their own shining stars as Max and Leo Viitala return for another year alongside Luke Liesegang to keep a core of strong performers at RB Robson Stadium. This match of the mega-stars in the North East will tip off at 8pm on Saturday night.
The Kego trio Lachlan, Riley and Cameron, are playing for Benalla once more this season alongside seasoned veteran Eric Miraflores – who has done laps of the world and laps of Victoria playing in Big V. Will be exciting to see his outside shot take the competition by storm. Benalla heads to Wangaratta on Saturday night in an interesting test to see which side is up for the fight in 2021/22.
Mansfield makes its mark on the competition with its first up clash against Wangaratta on the road on Sunday while Wodonga and Myrtleford will battle it out to round off the opening fixtures of the North East.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Wallan v Seymour – 8pm
Wangaratta v Benalla – 8pm
Sunday 28 November
Wangaratta v Mansfield – 2pm
Wodonga v Myrtleford – 2pm
NORTH EAST CONFERENCE – WOMEN
It’s a family affair in the North East as the sides are lining up sibling strong lineups across the board!
The Zamperonis lead the way for Myrtleford, with stars in the North East making the most of their time on court over the years. Along with Racquel Stevens and Bree Green, the Saints have plenty of firepower on offer ahead of their season debut on Sunday afternoon against Wodonga.
Returning to defend their championship, Wodonga features plenty of might across the board with Jade McCowan, Caitlin Reid and Charlotte Beaven leading the way for the Wolves.
Leah Swain, Dyani and Aiyana Ananiev, Jessica Del Brocco and Maddison and Hayleigh Frost are in for the Blasters’ women and will make for a challenging roster to defeat.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Wallan v Seymour – 6pm
Sunday 28 November
Wodonga v Myrtleford – 12pm
NORTH WEST CONFERENCE – MEN
Young and ready to climb the rungs, the talent in the North West Men’s Conference is set to impress this season.
Bendigo’s championship reigning team in the North West Men has loaded up. Clayton Bell has plenty of young stars in the roster with Dylan McCauley and Macey Eaton leading the way. The Braves will battle the Heat on Saturday night to tip off the defence.
Sam Beks will led the Cannons back into battle in 2021/22 alongside coach Aidan Brohm while Echuca has plenty of power with Staci Richardson, Luke Rosendale and Tyler Phillips as part of a Pirates core that will take a lot to knock off.
Bacchus Marsh and Maryborough are squaring off in a Saturday afternoon showdown as Vic Country state representatives Liam and Blake Allison and the Lions takes on Brady Neill and the Blazers. Will be quite the battle to behold!
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Maryborough v Bacchus Marsh – 3pm
Bendigo v Mildura – 7pm
Castlemaine v Echuca – 7pm
Sunday 28 November
Castlemaine v Kyneton – 2pm
NORTH WEST CONFERENCE – WOMEN
Caitlin Richardson, Maddie Sexton, Meg McCarthy. Sounds like a good team to me! Bendigo continues to load up on superstar young players getting to lead the team over summer. Starting off against Mildura will be a fantastic way to tip off the championship defence as Brianna Behsmann and Georgia Mayneare just a couple of the Heat stars to keep an eye on.
Jordan Wilson has come to Bacchus Marsh to lead the newly introduced Lions’ women’s team with Grace Bibby taking charge of the side. The Lions will face Maryborough on Saturday night as the experienced Blazers’ line-up featuring Claire Blower, Millie Cracknell, Keisha Tonzing and Maggie Tranter highlight an all-round strong roster.
Also showing some potency across the board, Swan Hill features Tess Denham, with Laura Anderson and some young faces in Arlee Bennett and Milla Holt ready to shine in senior basketball. The Mangans – Jess, Rachelle and Brooke – will feature prominently in Kyneton’s campaign alongside Michelle Fletcher.
CBL Round 1 Schedule
Saturday 27 November
Bendigo v Mildura – 5pm
Castlemaine v Echuca – 5pm
Maryborough v Bacchus Marsh – 5pm
Kyneton v Swan Hill – 6pm
Sunday 28 November
Castlemaine v Kyneton – 12pm
