Coming soon to Dragons!
We reckon you’ll look pretty stylish/sharp/sporty (we’ll let you choose your own adjective here!) in one of these new Dragons Basketball tees, so don’t miss the chance to add one to your wardrobe in the new year.
If you’re keen, please complete the expression of interest form at: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CamberwellBasketball/CamberwellDragonsTShirtsExpressionOfInterest
For more information, contact: [email protected]
Registration for Camberwell Dragons Boys Development Squad is now open.
Squad sessions will be held at Balwyn High School on Wednesday nights in Term 1.
The eight-week training program will improve the athlete’s skills, understanding of the game and intensity. With a focus on skill development, it will also feature game play, including spacing and team concepts.
This program is for domestic players born 2014-16 who may be interested in trying out for a Dragons team for the 2024-25 VJBL season and/or in the future.
The 2024 Term 1 Boys Development Squad will assemble for the first time on Wednesday, February 7 and the program will continue every Wednesday night until March 27.
To register, go to https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/ee1956
WHAT: Camberwell Dragons Boys Development Squad – Term 1, 2024
WHERE: Balwyn High School
WHEN: Wednesday nights in Term 1, starting February 7. 6-7pm
FOR: Players born 2014-16 with an interest in trying out for a Dragons team for the 2024-25 season and/or in the future
COST: $132 includes a Dragons T-Shirt
REGISTER AT: https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/ee1956
Registrations close on January 31, 2024 or until sold out. Places in this program are limited and are expected to sell out quickly.
For more information, contact: [email protected]
Season’s greetings and thank you for your wonderful support of Camberwell Basketball, including CDBA, Camberwell Dragons, the Community Basketball League and our various programs, throughout 2023.
Our office will close at 12pm on Wednesday, December 20 and re-open on Monday, January 15. Any breaking news or announcements during that time will be published here and on our social media platforms.
Have a safe and happy holiday season with family and friends, and we’ll see you again next month for what’s already shaping us as an even bigger and better year for basketball in Melbourne’s inner-east.
Registration for Camberwell Dragons Girls Development Squad is now open.
Squad sessions will be held at Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College on Monday nights in Term 1.
The seven-week training program will improve the athlete’s skills, understanding of the game and intensity. With a focus on skill development, it will also feature game play, including spacing and team concepts.
The program is for domestic players born 2014-16 who may be interested in trying out for a Dragons team for the 2024-25 VJBL season and/or in the future.
The 2024 Term 1 Girls Development Squad will assemble for the first time on Monday, February 5 and the program will continue every Monday night until March 25, with no session scheduled on Monday, March 11 (Labour Day).
To register, go to https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/90b48b
WHAT: Camberwell Dragons Girls Development Squad – Term 1, 2024
WHERE: Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College
WHEN: Monday nights in Term 1, starting February 5. 6-7pm
FOR: Players born 2014-16 who may be interested in trying out for a Dragons team for the 2024-25 season and/or in the future
COST: $120 includes a Dragons T-Shirt
REGISTER AT: https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/90b48b
Registrations close on January 29, 2024 or until sold out. Places in this program are limited and are expected to sell out quickly.
For more information, contact: [email protected]
The end of the year is coming up fast, but we’re not ready to close the book on Community Basketball League 2023 just yet.
In celebration of another fantastic year of local hoops, the CBL office is sharing some of its favourite photos of 2023 on Instagram and Facebook, and believe us when we say these are well worth a look.
Some of them you will have seen before, while others you’ll be seeing for the first time. Either way, this selection of shots is going to make you smile.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to those who helped make this one such a special year for basketball in Melbourne’s inner-eastern suburbs.
See you next year, everyone. Until then, sit back and enjoy some of the most memorable – and powerful – images of 2023, as captured by Craig Dingle of Melbourne Sports Photography. To follow the CDBA-CBL on Instagram, clickHERE
To follow it on Facebook, clickHERE
Liv Scott, from Camberwell Dragons 18.3 Girls team, recently completed work experience at Camberwell Basketball. Liv spent time at a Walking Basketball session and in our Communications Department, and while with us reflected on her own basketball journey, her passion for the game, and on some of those who helped her along the way. This is her story.
I started playing basketball when I was five years old, with a Playball team called Surrey Sparkles. I played in that team for about four years and then started domestic basketball. I met many of my current best friends through Sparkles.
I am still so close with the girls from Sparkles because we all share a love and passion for basketball. Because we all love basketball so much, many of us decided to join Camberwell Dragons around the same time in Under 12s, which helped us all stay so close together.
We all went to the same primary school, we would talk about the game and play basketball together at lunch, which bonded us all closer together. I am so grateful for Sparkles because If it wasn’t for that team I would have never started playing basketball, which means I would never have made such strong friendships.
I learnt so many basic skills, including dribbling and shooting, and gained social skills that have helped me to this day.
I started playing domestic basketball when I was about nine years old. I still play domestic basketball for the same club (Whitehorse Mustangs) and have created so many friendships with players and coaches throughout the club.
I had one particular coach, Bianca Stratford, at domestic who helped me change into a better person. She taught me how to stay calm on court, she showed me how much she really cared about me and how much she wanted me to succeed. Bianca showed me what it was like to have someone who wants the best for you. And someone who doesn’t see you just as a player, but also as a person.
Even if I didn’t feel like I was playing well some games, she would talk to me and tell me what I was doing well and what I needed to focus on improving. This really helped me as a player and changed my view on the game and how I played. If I didn’t have Bianca as a coach, I don’t think I would still be playing domestic basketball. She really helped me gain self-confidence and for myself as a girl I really lacked self-confidence, but Bianca really helped me and pushed me to my full potential. She is the reason I have stayed at the club for so long.
I started playing for Camberwell Dragons as a top age Under 12. I have had so many experiences playing at Dragons, such as playing in tournaments, and the Adelaide tournament is my favourite. I love to travel and getting to travel and play basketball with friends is so much fun and you can make so many memories.
I get excited every Friday because I know I have a game that night. I love Friday night games so much. I love it when I walk into the stadium and I see my team. I always run up to my teammates, give them a hug and then we sit down and talk.
I also love it when I’m on court and my coach is yelling out to me, telling me I did something well, because I find that really helps my confidence and it improves my game play.
My first Dragons coach was Paul Martin. He really helped me learn many basic skills and helped me learn how to play better. Paul was really good at explaining things and helping me understand what I needed to do to improve my game play. If I was ever unsure, I would always feel comfortable to ask Paul for help. Paul was very supportive and tough. I found it helpful when he was tough because it put me in my place.
I have struggled making real friendships at school, but at basketball everyone is so welcoming, and I feel at home when I play basketball. Everyone around you is so positive and they all support you. I find it so easy to talk to those in my team because we all have a passion for basketball and so we always have something to talk about.
No matter what happens in the game, you will always have people in your team to help you up again and to look after you. The coaches will always be there for you if you get hurt, and your teammates will always look out for you.
Basketball has given me so many opportunities and so many experiences and memories, and I would recommend it for any girl who is thinking about starting in the sport.
I remember doing my first-ever tryouts for Dragons and being so nervous. I remember looking around, seeing everyone in a Dragons’ uniform, and seeing how good they all were. All my confidence dropped. Once tryouts started, all the coaches were so nice and encouraging and the people around me were so helpful and kind. Those first tryouts really helped me become the basketballer I am today and pushed me to try my best.
I think basketball is a great sport for girls because it helps them learn so many new skills, they make so many friends and memories along the way and build their self-confidence with help from others.
• Camberwell Basketball’s work experience program will continue in 2024. To register your interest in doing work experience with us, contact Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]
And that makes five!
Camberwell Dragons will field at least five teams in the VJBL’s Victorian Championship (VC) competition for the 2023-24 season after a huge night for our club on Friday.
Three more of our teams qualified for VC before the Christmas break, with our 12.1 Boys, 14.1 Boys (pictured) and 16.1 Boys winning crossover games to qualify for the top level of competition in their respective age groups.
With Joshua Phillips (18 points) and Connor Haros (13) showing the way, the Under 12s locked up their place with a 61-40 win against Frankston 2 at the State Basketball Centre.
Jake Zeunert (21 points) led our Under 14s in a 60-24 win against Blackburn 1 at East Doncaster Secondary College, while the Under 16s advanced with a 60-51 win against Eltham 2 at Diamond Valley. Max Pavey with a game-high 31 points in that one for the Dragons.
Our 12.1 and 16.1 Girls teams will also compete in VC competition next year, after both qualified earlier this month.
A number of Dragons teams will continue their push for VC places when play resumes next February.
It was mission accomplished for our 12.1 Girls at Balwyn High School on Friday night.
The exciting young Dragons turned it on in a big win against Sandringham 2 to clinch their place in the Victorian Championship (VC) division, with all nine players scoring and four finishing with six points or more.
Gracie Otter had a game-high 13 points to lead Camberwell, which improved to 3-0 and became the first Dragons team to qualify for VC this season.
Our 16.1 Girls also qualified for VC at Balwyn High on Friday night – Milly White (14 points) showing the way in a 52-42 win against visiting Melbourne 2.
Sophie Richardson and Alexia Angelopoulos each added nine for the Dragons, who finished strongly after trailing by eight at the half.
Camberwell slashed the Tigers’ lead to one point after three quarters and then pulled away with a 19-8 final term to improve to 3-0 in grading.
Congratulations to the players and coaches from both our VC-bound teams.
Photos: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography
Best of luck to Camberwell Dragons 12.1 Girls at Balwyn High tonight as they look to complete a 3-0 sweep of their VJBL Phase 1 grading games.
The Dragons are coming off back-to-back wins, including a 37-35 victory against Frankston 1 at the State Basketball Centre last week, and host Sandringham 2 on Court 3 at the high school (7.30pm).
And they’re just one of the attractions on what looks like being a big night at Balwyn.
Camberwell’s 16.1 Girls (also 2-0) will go head to head with Melbourne 2 on Court 3 from 8.30pm and will be followed by our 18.1 Girls (1-1), who have a date with McKinnon 1 at 9.30pm. That one also on Court 3.
To find out where your favourite Dragons team is tonight as well as the full line-up of Camberwell teams at Balwyn, click HERE
Good luck to all Dragons teams at home and on the road tonight, and remember to send your photos, team news and game reports to [email protected]
WHAT: CDBA Domestic Development Camp
WHERE: Melbourne Girls’ College
WHEN: Thursday, January 18, 2024, 9.30am-12pm
HEAD COACH: Ben Crowe
COST: $45
TO REGISTER: Go to https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/cd1bc9
CAMP AT A GLANCE: This camp caters for all junior domestic basketball players born 2010-2016. It will further educate players and assist their development in correct technique for shooting, ball handling, defence and passing.
Many drills, including game-like situations, will be offered at this half-day camp and games will be played – enabling coaches to discuss necessary improvements with players.
Your head coach will be CDBA Community Development Officer and Camberwell Dragons Big V Championship Mens’ team player Ben Crowe. In his role at CDBA, Ben is always on the road conducting clinics at schools and domestic clubs and furthering basketball development and education in our community.
This camp will feature teaching and fun, with content including drills and tips to help participants recognise parts of their game they need to practise to improve their playing performance.
If you’re looking to improve your all-round game, you should attend this camp.
Secure your place today at: https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/cd1bc9
Please ensure you select the correct camp for your child/children and note that registration must close Thursday, January 11.
For more information, contact [email protected]
• This camp is part of CDBA’s January 2024 Holiday Camp program.