James Murphy
THE annual Millicent Basketball 4 Team Challenge will bring high-standard competition to Peter Seebohm Stadium this weekend.
Play kicks off tonight, with 10 games scheduled across three days.
Represented will be teams from Norwood, Woodville and Diamond Valley, while for local basketball fans the Challenge presents an opportunity for a first look at the 2023 Mount Gambier Pioneers lineups.
There will be some fresh faces on court, with plenty eager for a glimpse into what we can expect ahead of the approaching 2023 NBL1 South season.
Millicent Basketball stadium manager Peter Seebohm spoke to The Border Watch this week and said all is shaping up for another successful event.
The four men’s teams have been locked in for some time, while there has been a last-minute wildcard into the women’s competition.
A late withdrawal a few weeks ago left just three sides for the tournament.
However, some enquiries were made and a replacement team has been secured.
“We put it to the SA Country Under 18 national team which has just been selected to come down and play,“ Seebohm said.
“They are going to play a couple of games, one against Norwood and one against Woodville.“
Tonight will also act as the annual sponsor’s night for Millicent Basketball, with all sponsors invited for a wine and dine while having the chance to watch a couple of quality games.
“This year they will be in our new club room courtside,“ Seebohm said.
“It should be good.“
The event will give the stadium’s new facilities their first real test and promises to be one not to miss for basketball fans.
Seebohm expected a good standard of basketball despite the likely unavailability of a few stars.
“All teams are waiting on players to finish NBL and WNBL and are waiting on imports,“ he said.
“I don’t know what shape all of the teams are going to be in, but it will still be some reasonably high quality basketball.“
There has already been a positive response from travelling teams, with plenty of excitement surrounding the tournament.
“The Diamond Valley coach rang me up late last week – he came over a few years back with Kilsyth,“ Seebohm said.
“He has since changed clubs and he is really looking forward to it.
“He thinks it will be really good for his team.“
The support of the local team from Mount Gambier has also been good, with the club helping out where it can.
“The Pioneers have gotten in behind it a bit more and helped us,“ Seebohm said.
“They are providing a bit of accommodation and stuff for the referees.“
Seebohm hoped to see a strong support from the community and looked forward to what will be his last 4 Team Challenge as stadium manager.
The canteen and upstairs bar will be open tonight, while the new clubroom will be open for all spectators tomorrow.
FIXTURE
Friday, March 3: Norwood v Woodville (women), 6.30pm; Pioneers v Woodville (men), 6.30pm; Diamond Valley v Norwood (men), 8.15pm.
Saturday, March 4: Norwood v Pioneers (women), 5pm; Woodville v SA Country (women), 6pm; Norwood v Pioneers (men), 6.30pm; Woodville v Diamond Valley (men), 8.15pm.
Sunday, March 5: Woodville v Pioneers (women), 9.30am; Norwood v SA Country (women), 9.30am; Diamond Valley v Pioneers (men), 11am.
