The Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd State-wide Basketball Classic had Shepparton Sports Stadium absolutely overflowing with players, coaches and families during Labour Day weekend.
From Saturday, March 9, to Monday, March 11, 16 different grades from under-10 to adults in men’s and women’s competed in the tournament, with finals and grand finals taking place on Monday.
VACSAL is a First Nations organisation that does all sorts of social work, with multiple sports programs and tournaments that run each year.
Each team in the basketball tournament could have no more than two non-First Nations players registered.
For VACSAL chief executive Linda Bamblett, the tournament served as a way to unite different First Nations communities across the state under one roof through basketball.
“We’re very grateful to Shepparton,” Bamblett said.
“We have a great relationship here with the council and the GSBA.
“We’ve done it here for the last eight years at least, maybe as many as 12.”
Bamblett is originally from Shepparton and her daughter represented the Shepparton Gators in basketball, so it’s a full-circle moment for her each year when the annual tournament comes around.
There were 148 teams, 1137 players, 27 coaches and 18 team managers registered for the event.
Bamblett said she believed when you factored in families accompanying the players, the tournament brought in at least 5000 people from across Victoria to Shepparton.
She pointed out that due to the length of the tournament, potentially tens of thousands of dollars were being brought into the community in accommodation, retail and food expenses.
“We probably haven’t got as much attention as we should given how big the tournament is,” Bamblett said.
“If we’re back next year, come along and support.
“It’s a wonderful community event and there’s some awesome basketball on display.”
News photographer Megan Fisher headed along to the men’s B-grade grand final between ENIT and the Mildura Boomerangs on Monday, March 11.
She captured the action as Mildura ran out a 44-40 victor in a tight contest.