News

Big V cancelled, CBL still in mix

By Alex Mitchell

Jul 13, 2020

The Big V basketball season has been officially cancelled.

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Basketball Victoria announced last week Melbourne's return to stage three coronavirus restrictions left it with no choice but to cancel the season, with many of the competition's clubs being affected by the lockdown.

North East Bushrangers - which includes several Benalla players - were gearing up for a big season in the division two competition.

The governing body had been waiting for "orange-50" status — a maximum of 50 people a court — before any competition would begin, but that would appear to be some time away as Victoria continues to struggle to stop the spread of COVID-19.

With metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire in lockdown, regional areas are currently allowed 50 juniors and 20 seniors a court, and a pending return to senior full-contact training and indoor and outdoor competition is awaiting confirmation from the Department of Health and Human Services.

But the Country Basketball League season, which typically begins in October, is currently being aimed to go ahead without alteration.

The Basketball Victoria statement announcing the CBL would continue as planned said the basketball family would need to band together.

“While we may have geographical challenges, working together to keep our community engaged while managing the return to basketball in a timely, yet safe and controlled manner is critical,” it read.