Live stream: Rochester, Bairnsdale aim for Basketball Victoria Junior Country Championships glory (BV Country Championships)

A small town in Victoria’s north has high hopes ahead of the Junior Country Championships as a sleeping giant prepares to make its return to the event.

Rochester enters the weekend fresh off winning the Echuca tournament. Photo: Supplied.

A small town in northern Victoria looks set to take the second Basketball Victoria Junior Country Championships of the year by storm.

Rochester’s under 16s boys team will enter the tournament at Ballarat this weekend in red hot form.

The Herald Sun will stream 20 games across two days of the Basketball Victoria Country Championships Under-16/18 Div 3/4/5 Championships as part of a deal with BV.

WATCH THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE FROM 9AM, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

The Tigers warmed up for meetings with their regional rivals with a tournament victory in Echuca over the Labour Day long weekend.

But they’ll have their backs up against the wall in Ballarat with three players including Lachie Joyce, Flynn Pain and Jordy Rasmussen all unavailable due to a school camp.

Coach Darren Pain will also be on the sidelines.

That means former Sydney Kings player Luke Carnegie, who is also the current Basketball Victoria under 14 academy coach for the northwest region, will step into the role.

“This team is a highly competitive group who strive to be the best team,” a spokesperson for the club said.

“The entire team is all eligible for the under 16s again next year.”

For a town with a population of around 3000 people, Rochester has plenty of basketball talent in its community.

Harrison Keating will be key to Rochester's hopes. Photo: Facebook.

Harrison Keating is arguably the team’s most talented player right now having earned a place on the State Development Pathway program.

He also participated in the Country Metro Challenge in January.

Keating and Will Hann look set to form a formidable duo for the Tigers with the latter taking big strides in the game in recent months.

“Will is fairly new to basketball and is constantly improving with every game and tournament he plays,” the spokesperson said.

“Will’s ability to take a rebound and put a shot up is constantly improving.”

Also among the team’s roster is Jett Milligan who displays outstanding speed across the court.

Jed Carnegie and Nicholas Mitchell can both light it up from outside and could be some of the most exciting talents across the tournament.

Meanwhile, Will Coghill’s “ultimate team game” and Oscar Palmer’s inside presence will make a big difference for their side.

A BIG RETURN FOR BAIRNSDALE

Bairnsdale is set to make a big return to the Country Championships.

The Bullets have entered an under 16 boys‘ side, the club’s first entrant in several years.

Among their young guns will be centre Tayden Perry who can run the floor and provide fantastic protection at the rim.

But Perry is also capable of getting the job done inside on the defensive end.

Tayden Perry and Chidi Otuonye are important players for Bairnsdale. Photo: Supplied.

He will form an important partnership with forward Chidi Otuonye who can stretch the floor with his skillset.

Otuonye’s game relies on his physicality and will consistently fight for rebounds.

He is also extremely unselfish with his willingness to set screens for teammates.

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

SATURDAY

9am (U16 Girls) — Horsham v Terang

10am (U16 Boys) — Rochester v Hamilton

11am (U18 Boys) — Phillip Island v Macedon Ranges

12pm (U18 Girls) — Maryborough v Romsey

1pm (U16 Boys) — Bairnsdale v Wallan

2pm (U18 Boys) — Yarrawonga Mulwala v Lakes Entrance

3pm (U16 Girls) — Echuca v Western Port

4pm (U16 Boys) — Surfcoast v Portland

5pm (U16 Girls) — Terang v Maffra

6pm (U18 Girls) — Wangaratta v Warragul

7pm — U18 Boys division four and five crossover

8pm (U16 Girls) — Melton v Macedon Ranges

SUNDAY

8.30am — U18 Boys Division 5 quarter-final

9.30am — U16 Girls Division 3 quarter-final

10.30am — U18 Boys Division 3 quarter-final

11.30am — U18 Boys Division 4 quarter-final

12.30pm — U16 Girls Division 3 semi-final

1.30pm — U16 Boys Division 3 semi-final

3pm — U16 Girls Division 3 grand final

4pm — U16 Boys Division 3 grand final