By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE massive local basketball community can rest assured knowing its association – the Pakenham and District Basketball Association (PDBA) – continues to fight for improvements to their sport at a grassroots level.
Thousands of residents involved in the sport at a local level were facing uncertain futures a week ago following a standoff between the PDBA and Cardinia Shire Council.
As of 1 July, domestic basketball competitions at the Cardinia Life stadium were no longer sanctioned by Basketball Victoria or affiliated with the PDBA.
This meant those competitions were no longer covered by Basketball Victoria’s insurance, or regulated by the body.
“The current situation is that the association is trying to work through the process of managing the basketball competition that’s currently being facilitated out of Cardinia Life – in the best interests of its players, members and the community,” PDBA president Adrian Zemunik said.
“We’re cognisant of the fact that, historically, there’s been very little investment in the sport of basketball from grassroots through to the elite.”
The Gazette understands that the Cardinia Shire Council makes a profit of at least $500,000 a year out of basketball, and the PDBA saw no more than 0.64 per cent of that despite paying thousands per year in court hire fees.
But as of 6 July, the domestic competitions based out of Cardinia Life once again became Basketball Victoria sanctioned with the shire and the PDBA recommencing negotiations over a suitable long-term arrangement for both parties.
PDBA members were updated of the situation at a specially convened meeting at the Pakenham Beaconhills College campus and will continue to be updated through email and via social media as the situation develops.
On court, the PDBA’s representative sides – the Pakenham Warriors – continue to produce strong results at Big V level.
Jeff Reid’s men’s side recorded a hard-fought 82-75 win away to Craigieburn after trailing at half-time.
The Warriors shot a superb 50 per cent from the field for the game, despite converting on just 53 per cent of their attempts at the charity stripe.
Guard Josh Smith had his best game to date for Pakenham with 25 points on a stellar 11-15 shooting effort, while Kenneth ‘Buddy’ Hall recorded another double-double with 13 points and 11 boards – backing up from his 12 and 11 effort from the previous week against Collingwood.
Captain Paul Phillips, Hayden Davey and Ben Gaze also finished in double figures scoring while on the defensive end the Pakenham side restricted Craigieburn to just 39 per cent from the field.
In the earlier game of the double-header at Craigieburn, Simo Pajdic’s Division 2 Youth League men’s side went down by just five points to the home side – 86-81.
Big man Lewis Newman again impressed with 17 points and 13 boards, while Aaron Miles finished with 18 points and James Magrath – who made ‘that’ shot against Mornington – finished with 15 points.
Despite the result, the Warriors are still in a three-way tie for second on the ladder with Corio Bay and Casey.
Reid’s side, meanwhile, is also tied for second – with Mornington.
In the other local representative game of the round with local significance, the Warriors’ Division 2 women’s side put up a real fight before fading in the second half against Sherbrooke, ultimately going down by 11 points, 63-52.
