HORSHAM will host a South East Australian Basketball League pre-season tournament for the second consecutive year.
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The Nunawading Spectres, BallaratMiners,Mount Gambier Pioneers and Bendigo Braves will converge on Horsham Basketball Stadium for the round-robin tournament on March 14 and 15.
The SEABL is the secondhighest basketball league in Australia, behind only the NBL.
There will be a Wimmera connection, with former Horsham man and SEABL most valuable player Shane McDonald suiting up for Nunawading.
The Ballarat Miners will host coaching clinics for junior basketballers and Horsham squad players during the weekend of the tournament.
Horsham Amateur Basketball Association president Dean Lakin said it was great to have the four teams back for a second straight year.
‘‘We said last year when we first hosted the tournament that we wanted it to be an annual event,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re all keen to repeat the weekend of last year which is a great result for them and for us.
‘‘The beauty of this year is that all teams will hopefully have their imports playing, whereas last year there were some visa issues that kept some of them out.
‘‘They will play for the Graham Adams Shield, the perpetual trophy which was won by Nunawading last year.’’
The shield is in recognition of former Horsham Hornet Graham Adams, who was killed in a car crash in 2007.
Mr Lakin said the tournament would be entertaining for Wimmera residents to watch but would also benefit the region’s players.
‘‘We’ve got training sessions with squad and domestic players – the Miners will run one on the Saturday afternoon,’’ he said.
‘‘No doubt Shane will be happy to help and be involved with the kids who come along too.’’
Mr Lakin said National Intensive Training Program head coach Justin Schueller would host a clinic for coaches on the evening of March 13 before the tournament and a clinic for Horsham representative players on March 14.
Up and coming Horsham referee Ash Grace will also be given the opportunity to referee with SEABL referees at the tournament.