For the fourth consecutive year Harbour Basketball are taking junior representative teams to the Eltham/Dandenong Basketball Tournament in Melbourne.

The world’s largest junior tournament, that attracts over 1,400 teams, will be held over Australia Day Weekend (January 24^th– 27^th) and is jointly hosted by Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club and Dandenong Basketball Association.

Harbour are looking to take four teams to the tournament – Boys and Girls U14 and U16 teams.

Harbour Basketball Coach and Player Development Manager Vince Minjares believes the trip to Melbourne has many benefits for players and coaches alike.

“To be honest, this trip really brings us together as a Harbour community. It is a rite of passage for our staff and a cool chance to get closer to some of the families and kids that we serve. 

“In terms of the basketball, there simply isn't a better way to help our players and coaches get better over such a short period of time. For four days, we play competitive games with excellent officiating, skilled opponents and nice venues,” said Vince.

Harbour Basketball and Dandenong have formed a strategic partnership which resulted in Harbour, in 2019, having the only NZ teams playing in the A Grade sections at the tournament. 

“Playing in A Grade means we face teams that play hard, move the ball and make their shots. They run advanced schemes and play with great defensive intensity! As a coach, this makes for one of the most competitive, high quality competitions in the southern hemisphere,” said Vince.

“Given Harbour’s aspirations I don't think you can ask for more. The  Eltham/Dandenong Tournament is a chance each year to measure how far we've come. Globally, I rate their youth basketball scene among the best in the world and feel that if we can play with the clubs at Eltham/Dandenong, we can play with anyone,” added Vince. 

Having spent time in Melbourne, most recently at the Tall Ferns training camp ahead of the Asia Cup, Jody Cameron (Harbour’s Women’s Development Officer) has witnessed first-hand the high quality play of the Melbourne teams.

“Australia are ranked #3 in the world in both Men’s and Women’s basketball and it’s not hard to see why when you see the quality of their junior basketball programmes that feed into their national teams. 

“At the tournament in January our players will get to compare themselves with some of the better players in their age-group in Melbourne. Given Melbourne is the epicentre of Australian basketball many of these players are destined to go on and play for Australian age-group teams.

“Playing top teams in Melbourne is as good as it gets outside of international basketball,” added Jody.

Both Jody and Vince will be on the ground in Melbourne offering insight and advice to the players and coaches alike. 

Once again the tour to Melbourne will be a terrific opportunity for our young players to deepen their understanding of the game and grow their passion for basketball.

Harbour is holding open trials for both our U16 Boys and U16 Girls teams. Our U14 teams will be selected from within their 2019 rep teams that are currently in-season. Trial details for our U16 teams below.

Trial Information:

• Saturday October 19^th
• Massey University, Albany
• U16 Girls – 1:30-3pm
• U16 Boys – 3-4:30pm 

For more information on Harbour Basketball’s 2020 Tour to Melbourne, contact Tour Director Matt Lacey at math3wlacey@gmail.com