Horsham Amateur Basketball Association successfully staged a pre-season tournament for the Nunawading Spectres, Ballarat Miners, Mount Gambier Pioneers and Bendigo Braves in 2014.

All four teams have returned for the weekend.

Organisers of last year’s tournament said they hoped it would become an annual event.

Horsham Amateur Basketball Association president Dean

Lakin said he was thrilled to have all four teams back.

He said the tournament could become a fixture on the Horsham basketball calendar.

‘‘It certainly is on track to become an annual event, which is great news,’’ he said.

The Graham Adams Shield is a perpetual trophy named after former Horsham Hornet Graham Adams, who died in 2007.

Defending the shield will be Nunawading, a team led by former Horsham basketballer Shane McDonald.

McDonald was named the SEABL’s most valuable player in 2013. He said his team was eager to return to Horsham after its experience last year.

After winning the pre-season tournament the Spectres reached the grand final, losing to fellow Horsham tournament competitor Mount Gambier.

McDonald said the tournament allowed the team to get a feel for match situations in the pre-season.

‘‘Having high quality games early in the year allows you to go back and know what you need to work on for the season,’’ he said.

‘‘I thought the tournament was invaluable for us in terms of our preparation for last season and I think it’s going to be even more valuable for us this year because we have a few changes to last season’s group.’’

Among Nunawading’s roster changes are two imports, including 201-centimetre American Delwan Graham.

Visa issues kept several imports from competing at Horsham last year, but Mr Lakin said he expected most of the imports would be cleared to play this year.

McDonald said their inclusion would increase the spectacle for the Horsham crowd.

‘‘We didn’t have any imports last year. This is the first time in 10 years that we’ve had two imports at Nunawading,’’ he said.

‘‘Ballarat, Bendigo and Mount Gambier will have their imports ready to go so it’s only going to increase the importance and quality of the tournament.’’

During their Horsham visit the Ballarat Miners will run a clinic for junior basketballers and squad members.

McDonald will run some Horsham juniors through an informal skills session.

National Intensive Training Program head coach Justin Schueller will host a clinic for coaches at the stadium tonight.

McDonald encouraged as many people to attend as possible.

Six round-robin games will be played at the weekend in two-game sessions.

The cost of entry is $5 a session. Mount Gambier will play Bendigo at 11am and Nunawading will face Ballarat at 1pm in the first session tomorrow.

Tomorrow night’s session will feature Ballarat and Bendigo at 6pm and Mount Gambier and Nunawading at 8pm.

On Sunday Mount Gambier and Ballarat will face off at 11am and Nunawading will play Bendigo at 1pm.

Mr Lakin said people could call him on 0417566586 or visit haba.sportingpulse.net for more information.