The 2016/17 Country Victoria Basketball League season tips off next Saturday night when reigning South West Conference Men’s Champions, Mount Gambier Lakers and South West Conference minor premiers, Lakers’ Women, host new comer Millicent Magic at the Bern Bruning Stadium. The evening begins with the Women’s game at 6pm followed by the Men at 8pm.

The Country Basketball League is an open age home and away domestic league across three Conferences in regional Victoria. Mount Gambier Lakers have again been invited to compete along with newcomer, Millicent Magic to compete in the League this season, which runs from October 2016 to February 2017.

The South West Conference comprises eight Associations fielding Men’s and Women’s teams, Corio Bay, Millicent, Mount Gambier, Colac, Horsham, Portland, Warrnambool, Stawell and one Terang, Men only.

The Lakers Men are South West Conference Champions having defeated Colac Kookas on the back of a superb performance from Simon Berkefeld and astute coaching by Sonya Knight in February this year. This year a very different Lakers Men’s team will suit up.

Ryan Meakin, with experience in SA District and Premier League coaching, has taken on the role of Coach of the Lakers Men. Since being transferred to Mount Gambier in his employment, he has been involved with the Roos Basketball Club and the Pioneers. There are also huge changes in the playing personnel. Chris Mason, long term on court leader for the Lakers and Simon Berkefeld, a truly outstanding basketballer at all levels, junior and senior, from club competitions to representative teams over many years. These two players will be hard to replace but at the same time provides opportunities for other squad members to build on the enviable reputation of the Lakers Men. New comers include Kane and Zach deWit, Lachlan Hunter, Stephen Sochacki and Mony Makuer.

Malcolm Allen returns for a second season as Coach of the Lakers’ Women, who made a premature exit from the CBL finals series last season. A 13 player squad has been formed although not all members are available for the full busy season. Members include CBL MVP Malinda Markiewicz, former WNBL player Melissa Russell, former State juniors Rachael Hines, Brenna McKay, Tenille Gray and Ebony McDiarmid.

The Millicent Magic teams are likely to comprise members, who form the core of the SECBL teams. The key players in the Women’s team will possibly be the talented crop of players who have just moved out of junior ranks after having represented Millicent and SA Country over a considerable period of time.