BALLARAT will play Bendigo in Ballarat on a Wednesday night in the South East Australian Basketball League for the second time in three seasons next year.
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They already have one of the biggest rivalries, but Ballarat Basketball Club is keen to further enhance the blockbuster status of the men’s and women’s conference doubleheader.
The Courier-Bendigo Advertiser Cups will be on the line at the Minerdome during school holidays on Wednesday, April 3.
The Miners and Rush took on the Braves and Lady Braves in a midweek holiday fixture two seasons ago.
These games attracted one of Ballarat’s biggest home crowds of the year.
Ballarat applied for the same fixturing last season, but the game was switched to a Friday night.
Ballarat Basketball Club media officer Jimmy Hunt said it was disappointing to miss out on getting Wednesday night for this clash in 2012.
He said the Friday night attendance had come up well short of the Wednesday timeslot, convincing the club to seek a return to the midweek timeslot.
Ballarat will meet Bendigo in the return clash in Bendigo on Anzac Day.
Hunt said the concept was to rotate the Anzac Day fixture year about between Bendigo and Ballarat.
He said while this was the idea, nothing was confirmed.
Hunt said not knowing how the public would respond, a decision was yet to be made on the ongoing future of Anzac Day games.
The Miners open their season against Mt Gambier Pioneers in Ballarat on Saturday, March 16.
This will throw Ballarat recruit Chris Smith immediately into battle with his former team.
Rush will hit the road for its first game against Frankston on Saturday, March 23.
All men’s teams will play 28 games (14 home and 14 away), while the women will play 26 games (13 home and 13 away).
Conferences:
EAST: Bendigo, Brisbane, Canberra, Dandenong, Frankston, Geelong and Sandringham.
SOUTH: Albury/Wodonga, Ballarat, Hobart, Kilsyth, Knox, Mt Gambier, NW Tasmania (Launceston for the women), Nunawading.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au