Knox Raiders are back in the top flight after being chosen for Basketball Victoria’s new elite competition
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Knox Raiders are set to return to the top flight after being one of 18 clubs granted a place in Basketball Victoria’s new state elite competition.
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Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Knox Raiders are set to return to the top flight after being one of 18 clubs granted a place in Basketball Victoria’s new state elite competition.
The new competition, yet to be named, will replace the now defunct South-East Australian Basketball League and will be made up of former Victorian SEABL clubs, four from the Big V as well as Hobart and Launceston and Basketball Australia’s Centre of excellence.
KNOX BASKETBALL FIGHTS FOR SURVIVAL
The Raiders were a SEABL powerhouse until financial difficulties in 2015 crippled the association, forcing it to step back to the Big V.
So severe was the financial strife, that one of the great basketball associations in the country was within days of closing the doors completely, according to Knox Basketball general manager Julian Cosgrave.
But, heroic work from staff and volunteers has the association back on its feet and champing at the bit ahead of the Raiders’ return to the big league.
“It’s so exciting for us,” Cosgrave said. “We had to step away from SEABL, with our financial situation it wasn’t viable to do it.
“It’s (the announcement) really revitalised Knox.
“Back in the old days with SEABL, it was big. We used to pack out Boronia Stadium.”
The outer-eastern derby clashes between the Raiders and Kilsyth Cobras were the stuff of legends with ‘The Ashes’ and Cystic Fibrosis Cup games between the two always requiring the ‘Sold Out’ signs at Boronia Stadium and Kilsyth Sports Centre
“It’s going to be great to reignite those rivalries — Kilsyth, Dandenong, Nunawading — it’s great to be back part of those rivalries once again,” Cosgrave said.
With the new competition tipped to start in March next year, preparation time will be limited.
“Basketball Victoria had a meeting where they were canvassing interest, but they couldn’t really tell us much,” Cosgrave said.
“To be competitive, we need to bring in our home grown players but sign import players as well.”
Name, fixture and structure of the 18-team competition — whether it will be one or two conferences — has yet to be finalised.
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