Basketball Tas reignites courts demand as Winter Classic looms

It attracts around 140 teams, but Basketball Tasmania has described next weekend’s Winter Classic in Launceston as a “logistical nightmare” which highlights the state’s dire need for more courts. Read how you can watch live streams of games here.

Darcy Hickey of Southern Wolves drives for a layup in the U14 Championship match against Glenorchy at last year’s state championships . Picture: Simon Sturzaker Photography

Basketball Tasmania CEO Ben Smith believes next weekend’s Mid-Winter Classic in Launceston highlights the sport’s dire need for more courts as the sports’ popularity continues to explode.

Kommunity TV will live stream games on two courts at Elphin Sports Centre during the event, to be held on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 of the King’s Birthday long weekend.

However games will also be scheduled for courts at the Silverdome, St Patrick’s College, Launceston College and Deloraine to accommodate the approximately 140 teams competing, as organisers scrounge for any court available.

The tournament is participation-focused an open to all clubs across the state, and Smith has been vocal in his campaign for more courts.

He wrote an open letter in the aftermath of the JackJumpers’ championship win, accusing politicians of “taking turns patting each other on the back for the JackJumpers’ success while community basketball struggles.”

The state government has committed to installing three more courts at Elphin to bring its capacity to seven, while basketball hopes to feature strongly in Devonport’s Sports Infrastructure Priority Investment Plan.

“There’s two elements to our plan which is some new courts, but also upgrades to existing ones,” Smith said.

“We costed it out as approximately 70 million, which is a relatively small investment compared to other investment in sporting infrastructure.”

Smith described the Winter Classic, which features teams in under-10 to under-18 age groups, as a “logistical nightmare” for organisers, which would be far less complicated with access to more courts.

Sianna Adkins of Devonport pushes the ball in her side’s Under 14 Championship division Grand Final win at last year’s state championships. Picture: Simon Sturzaker Photography

He said it also hampers their desire to host national level events.

“There’s a couple of thousand people descending on Launceston in the middle of winter. It’s a significant injection into the Launceston economy,” he said.

“Not that we’ve had to turn any teams away, but the schedule is really punishing. They can start at 8am, and finish at 7pm.

“If we had more courts available then you’d schedule friendlier timeslots, because for kids it’s a long day.

“Even things like national championships, currently there is no venue in Tasmania that is compliant to host national championships.

“We’d love to put forward a proposal to Basketball Australia, and we’d get support from Basketball Australia to host events if we just had facilities to do it.”

Smith said the response has been encouraging from powerbrokers after his open letter.

“I’ve had meetings with Active Tasmania and Infrastructure Tasmana, and have a meeting with the sports minister next week,” he said.

“We are looking to progress various facility projects around the state ASAP.

“It (open letter) made sure it was front of mind, and our role as a state sporting organisation is to help our members. We’re just looking to get our share of government investment in sporting infrastructure.

“There’s not one single standaone basketball facility in Tasmania. We’ve got basketball clubs with 1000 members who don’t even have a shed. There’s other sporting clubs where having a home with a clubroom is taken for granted, but it’s not normal for basketball.

“It’s amazing how healthy basketball is given that constraint.”