Live stream: Casey Cavaliers to enter seven teams at National Junior Classic

The Casey Cavaliers basketball program is continuing to grow in strength highlighted by seven teams competing at the National Junior Classic. Here’s how they’ve done it.

Fear the Cavalier.

It’s the motto of the Casey Cavaliers basketball association and something opposition teams should be doing at this weekend’s National Junior Classic hosted by Basketball Victoria.

The Cavaliers will have seven teams competing in eight of the tournament’s eight divisions — the most of any club.

They include the under 12 boys and girls, under 14 boys and girls, under 16 girls and under 18 boys and girls.

Casey’s basketball development manager David Peters said the opportunity had come through hard work over the past three years.

“We’re in a super exciting place as a club at the moment — everyone is on the same page about where we want to go,” he said.

“One of the things we think that has help has be so successful is the offensive and defensive systems we have implemented in our junior teams. Every player is getting the same training from our first team down to the lowest representative grades.

“We’ve got fantastic head coaches who are helping our junior players be the best they can possibly be.”

Casey Cavaliers’ under 12 and 14 teams will play in the National Junior Classic this weekend. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The Cavaliers currently have 41 teams entered in the Victorian Junior Basketball League, where games are played on Friday nights across the state.

Casey’s seven teams playing this weekend earned the right after sitting among the top teams in their respective Victorian Championship divisions — the highest level of competitions.

“We’ve got teams right through from under 12s to 18s,” Peters said.

“The 12s and 14s are our foundation because we have so many different players. As players do get older the number of teams we do enter becomes a lot smaller so it’s a lot more competitive.

“In the older age groups, you’re seeing the best talent Casey has to offer.”

Casey Cavaliers under 12 Mofeoluwa Adio (centre) with under 14 team members Emily Groat and Riley Johnston. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Casey’s continued rise as one of Victorian basketball’s junior powerhouses is far from over either.

This year, the Cavaliers entered senior teams in the NBL1 South competition for the first time.

It was given them a complete pathway according to Peters.

“It’s important the athletes know they can play all of their basketball here at Casey,” he said.

“The NBL1 competition is the highest level you can play in Australia if you don’t go onto have a professional career.

“We think it’s an important stamp for us and is a point of difference.”