Article originally published by The Daily Advertiser
THE Wagga Heat may be on hiatus, but local basketball will soon have a new presence with the Riverina to field a team in the Champions League Basketball (CLB) 3×3 competition.
The demise of the Southern Bobcats, who were based in the Melbourne peninsula, has opened the door for a Riverina team to adopt their logo and colours for the 2020 circuit.
Organised by Heat basketballer Zac Maloney, the CBL 3×3 league has been played at Wagga Beach for the past two years, with this year the final installment of a three year agreement.
However, Maloney is hopeful the fact the region will now have its own team, the Riverina Bobcats will result in an extension.
“I’ve been talking to them for a while about getting a club here, so it’s just worked out well we can use their logo and jersey and change it over to the Riverina,” Maloney said.
“They’ll probably be down in October or November to run another weekend here and hopefully we can renegotiate with council and get a few more, especially now we have a club in the Riverina.
“I’m pretty sure council are keen on it and the last two times it’s been here it’s been a success.
With all basketball on hold due to coronavirus and the Heat opting to take the year off, the Bobcats introduction has come at the right time to help fill the void.
“Anyone can go away with the team as long as you’re registered with CLB,” Maloney said.
“It will be good for the boys to get out and do something different.
“It’s in the Olympics next year, so hopefully it will take off.”
Maloney said he hoped to get local 3×3 competitions off the ground as soon as possible.
“Eventually we want to look to install a court here and have a weekly three on three comp with seniors and juniors,” he said.
“We’ve had a couple of chats with pubs about installing a court, before coronavirus it was taking off with courts in Darwin and Sydney.
“It’s all a bit unknown at the moment but if we can get it within two years it would be ideal.”
