This year’s tournament has grown to include 271 teams across under-11 to under-18 competitions – up on 248 teams in action last year.

Games will be played across Ballarat with 20 courts and 10 venues, including Damascus College, St Francis Xavier Primary and Ballarat Secondary College in Wendouree, to fit all matches into the schedule.

Ballarat Basketball chief executive Peter Eddy said it was a credit to his events team to continue to attract strong, increasing team numbers despite the fact the competition was becoming so widespread across the city.

Eddy said the association must keep looking to improve and offer opportunity in such a tournament with the growth of rival basketball centres with new facilities in places such as Werribee and Bendigo.

Ballarat Basketball estimates the event will deliver a 

$1.5 million economic benefit to the region at the weekend.

Only 5 per cent of competing teams are from the Ballarat region. 

Most contenders will travel from metropolitan and country associations in Victoria and South Australia.

The event will host more than 2700 junior players and officials.