CAMBERWELL BASKETBALL

Refs leave mark on national stage

Refs leave mark on national stage

Congratulations to two of our panel referees, Daniel Adetunji and Jonah Fleming, who represented Camberwell at the Foot Locker Under 20 and Ivor Burge National Championships in Ballarat.

The two Level 2 officials were selected to work the Ivor Burge competition – a great accomplishment, and an opportunity for both of them to continue to improve their officiating skills and to receive coaching along the way.

Adetunji was selected to referee the Ivor Burge women’s gold medal game – a massive personal achievement.

For more information about the Championships, please click HERE.

Big V roster update

Look who’s back to lead the Camberwell Dragons’ senior women’s team in Big V 2025.

Coming off a season in which she led the Dragons with 16 points and seven rebounds a game, Eleni Valos is returning for her fourth year at Camberwell and will play a prominent role again for head coach Cara Jeffers.

Eleni and the Dragons open their Big V Division 1 campaign with road games against Chelsea (March 23) and Western Port (March 29) before hosting Whittlesea in their home opener at Balwyn High School on March 30.

Follow the Dragons on our social media platforms for more team roster updates on the road to the Big V season.

Photo: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Delighted Dragons

Oscar Kapakoulakis led all scorers with 19 points and Zac Bezzina closed with 17 points, four steals and three assists as Camberwell secured its place in the Big V Youth League 1 Men competition with a 94-65 win against Whittlesea at Altona Sports Centre on Sunday night.

Kapakoulakis made seven of his 10 field goal attempts and added six steals, while Josh Kohlman had 10 points and eight rebounds in 16 productive minutes for the Dragons, who outscored the Pacers 55-31 across the second and third quarters and never looked back.

It was an impressive performance by Camberwell, which hit back to qualify for Youth League 1 Men play after opening its Qualification Series with a 66-58 loss to Pakenham at the same venue earlier in the day. Matthew Marcun with a team-high 10 points in that one for the Dragons.

Our Youth League Men will open their 2025 Big V regular season campaign next month.

• Click HERE for the box scores from Sunday’s games.

Photo: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

Big V roster update

Camberwell Dragons announced Ben Crowe will play for the club’s Championship Men’s team in the Big V again this season.

Entering his fourth season with the Dragons senior program, Crowe is coming off a Big V campaign in which he averaged 13 points a game and shot the ball 40 per cent from the three-point line. He ranks fourth all-time at Camberwell for career three-pointers made.

We’ll have more Big V roster updates here and on our social media platforms on the road to next month’s season openers for all four of our senior teams.

The Championship Men, coached by Shawn King, will open their campaign on the road at Bellarine on March 29 before hosting RMIT in their home opener at Boroondara Sports Complex on Saturday, April 5.

In other Dragons Big V news, our Youth League Men, led by head coach coach Fraser Kennedy, will play Pakenham in a Youth Qualification game at Altona tomorrow (Sunday, 12.30pm). We’ll have updates here over the weekend.

Photo: Craig Dingle, Melbourne Sports Photography.

We mean business

Camberwell In Business (CIB) was launched in April 2024 as a community for businesses to network, collaborate and thrive, and we’re excited to say our community is growing fast.

If you’re new to Camberwell Dragons or the Community Basketball League and/or are unfamiliar with what we’re doing to help bring our business community together, here’s five facts you need to know about CIB:

  1. Our 2025 program is designed to attract key decision makers and will include three first-class networking events, featuring high-profile speakers, industry experts and engaging, thought-provoking content.
  2. Our next event is a three-course dinner (including beer, wine and soft drink) at Pincho Disco, Collingwood, on Wednesday, March 19, featuring guest speaker Michele Timms. Michele is an Australian basketball great, three-time Olympian and Naismith Hall of Fame inductee. (See more about what’s included at this event below).
  3. Camberwell In Business members come from a wide range of sectors, including, but not limited to, Legal, Hospitality, Transport, Building, Banking, Sport and Leisure, Media and Travel. Business profiles for all CIB members can be viewed in our Information Pack/E-Booklet at: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ydocm/vtfl/
  4. Our experienced program leads are dedicated to making things happen through facilitating high-quality networking opportunities and are available to our members at any time.
  5. Our packages start from as little as $990 (GST inc.) and include a ticket to all three of our 2025 networking events, access to a Camberwell In Business program lead and additional networking opportunities. To find out more about what we have to offer, please view our Information Pack/E-Booklet.

• Please note a limited number of seats are available for non-Camberwell In Business members to our March 19 event at Pincho Disco (7pm-10pm). Tickets are $130 a head (GST inc.) and include: The opportunity to hear from Australian basketball legend Michele Timms, a three-course Latin American feast, beer, wine and soft drink. To secure your seat today, email Camberwell Basketball Communications Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected] or call 0425 791 610.

To find out more about Pincho Disco, click HERE.

To join Camberwell In Business, to find out more about this initiative and/or to register your interest in attending a CIB Information night, please contact Andrew (details above).

Outside the Lines

Camberwell Basketball is delighted to announce that Rohan Short, Head of Operations at South East Melbourne Phoenix (NBL), is locked in as the special guest for this free Outside the Lines session on Thursday, March 20.

Rohan has enjoyed a long and successful career in sports administration and coaching over the past 25-plus years, with his stops including Athletics Australia, Townsville Crocodiles, the Victorian Institute of Sport, Commonwealth Games Australia, the Australian College of Sport and now Phoenix – his professional home since 2018.

Rohan has a wealth of experience to share and will talk about his journey and his current, wide-ranging role with Phoenix, which will open its NBL playoff campaign this month.

For more information about Rohan and his career, the subject matter for this session and Camberwell Basketball’s Outside the Lines program, please contact Andrew Johnstone at [email protected]

This session will be held in the Camberwell Basketball boardroom, 606 High Street, Kew, from 7pm-8.30pm on Thursday, March 20, and is free for all Camberwell Basketball (and affiliated leagues and clubs) members.

To register for this session, email Andrew Johnstone at the email address above by close of business on March 6.

• Launched by Camberwell Basketball in 2024, Outside the Lines is a series of interactive and practical workshops and seminars for CDBA (and affiliated leagues and clubs) members aged 15 and above interested in pursuing a non-playing career in sports. For more information, click HERE

Tourney Update

Camberwell Dragons Girls team coaches have their say on last weekend’s Eltham Dandenong Tournament. All reports written by team coaches unless otherwise specified.

12.1 GIRLS
The girls had an amazing tournament and the coaches could really tell how much the girls have improved over the summer break, coming back stronger in all skill areas. We won three of our first four games against Knox 1, Bulleen 1 and Diamond Valley 1, and had a tight loss against Frankston 1. This placed us sixth in the finals against Casey. This game we started 12 points down but had the grit and determination to pull through and win by a comfortable margin. Unfortunately, the next final was not ours to win, but the girls had an incredible weekend and got closer as a group, which was amazing to watch. Maddy, Hannah and I look forward to the rest of the season with this incredible group!

12.2 GIRLS
After a tough first grading phase playing VC opposition, the girls didn’t know what to expect in the tournament but were full of confidence. Starting with a close loss, the girls then strung together six wins with the last being the grand finals. It was all smiles with a medal around their necks. Congratulations, girls. An amazing team effort.

12.3 GIRLS
Going into the tournament, expectations were low since we were down four players. To our surprise, we kicked off with two wins – beating South Adelaide 3 by 27 points, then Eltham 3 by six. The next three games were closely contested losses, each one a close call that could have gone either way. A huge thanks to Polly and Chloe for stepping in and helping out during the tournament, and a big well done to the whole team for their effort and determination in every game.

12.4 GIRLS
These mighty girls had an awesome tournament, with many close and exciting games. The girls improved with each game and competed to the very end. They beat Nunawading 3 by two points in the semi-final and unfortunately lost to Hawthorn 2 by a point in the grand final. An amazing effort for this young group and we cannot wait to watch them continue to learn and improve over the season. Thank you to Emma for keeping our team organised and thank you to the parents for giving up your weekend and supporting your little superstars. Go, 12.4 Dragons.

12.5 GIRLS
The girls had a fantastic tournament that got them through to the grand final on the Kilsyth Show Court, restarting the great form they had at the end of last year’s grading games. After a two-point loss to Ringwood 2 in an earlier round of the tournament we knew they would have a few plans to counter what they had encountered earlier, and they were too strong in the grand final. While a few girls had been a little low key in grading games, they were all in great form from game one of the tournament.

12.6 GIRLS
A great effort by the girls, who all worked hard putting into practice the skills we had been working on at our trainings. All girls came to each game eager and prepared to play, showing perseverance even when coming up against stronger and older teams. Fantastic effort by the girls, especially making it to a semi-final in their first season of rep basketball!

Game 1: Defeated Collingwood 12.2 by 17 points
It was great to get back into basketball after a long break with the girls having a brilliant game to begin the weekend. Their defensive pressure was off the charts and they converted well offensively. Lots of positives. 

Game 2: Lost to Whittlesea 12.3 by eight points
A close game for the majority of the time with some late defensive lapses letting the opposition score some easy baskets. All players contributed evenly in offence and defence.  

Game 3: Defeated Nunawading 12.6 by two points
A very tight and close contest for the whole game. The girls played well to hold on and get their second win of the weekend.

Game 4: Defeated Waverley 12.5 by three points
Another tight game. The girls were determined to score, with repeat efforts on the boards assisting with our scoring execution. A great all-round effort in which they remained persistent despite the margin becoming very close.

Game 5: Lost to Coburg 12.4 by 26 points
A physical game against stronger, older girls. Our team did well to adapt to the opposition’s style of play in the second half. A great learning opportunity.

Semi-Final: Lost to Coburg 12.4 by 17 points
Exciting for the team to make its first final in its first year of rep basketball. I was really impressed how the team tried to execute what we had discussed following the previous game against the same opponent. Although a loss, it was an excellent effort against a quality opponent and a great experience for our girls.

The tournament provided a chance for our team to continue its development and provided many teaching situations. The team performed very well, winning three of its six games and making a final. Thank you to team manager Amber for keeping us all organised, planning team catch-ups and ensuring the weekend ran smoothly. Thanks to the girls and parents for their commitment and support.

14.2 Girls
The girls went 4-1 during the rounds, finishing second on the ladder. They accounted for Nunawading 2 in the semi-finals and went on to be runners-up, losing to Whittlesea by six points. Great tournament, girls!

14.3 Girls
The 14.3 Girls were not as successful as we hoped we’d be, ending the tournament with one win and three loses. As the weekend progressed the girls slowly rebuilt their teamwork and played some better basketball, which will hopefully help us moving into a tough next round of grading.

14.5 Girls
The girls had an amazing tournament, starting off with a strong win by nearly 60 points. We went undefeated the entire weekend with a few close wins. All the girls really came together during this tournament and worked extremely well as a team. Going into the finals the girls played extremely well and were able to finish with a strong 47-22 win against Waverley in the grand final. Every player contributed offensively and defensively, with an added bonus of everyone getting on the scoreboard. Overall, it was a great weekend and we are so proud of the girls’ accomplishments.

14.6 Girls
What a weekend! After losing the first game by one point and the next by two points, we knew we were competitive in our grade but struggled to hold out the opposition at the end. We struggled in our next game against Bulleen 4 and were 0-3 on Saturday night. However, we turned things around on Sunday and won both games to sneak into fourth place on the ladder. The team improved game and turbo-charged that improvement with a semi-final win against top-of-the-table Eltham 6. We ran out of legs in the Sunday heat against Surfcoast 1 to finish runners-up. A terrific weekend of bonding. Well done, team.

16.1 Girls
It was a big weekend for our girls and they certainly didn’t let anybody down. While some results didn’t go our way, the endeavour and willingness to improve individually and as a group was certainly on display. We had some big wins, against Keilor and Casey, and pushed eventual tournament champion Diamond Valley, giving them their smallest winning margin of their weekend. Thank you to all the parents who were extremely supportive of the girls and played the important roles of cheerleaders and taxi drivers. We will take what we learned over this weekend into our next practice game against Gippsland tonight as we prepare for our upcoming VC season.

16.5 Girls
The girls had some great games and finished their tournament as runners-up after falling to a strong and well-balanced team in the grand final. Minutes into the game they were clearly tired, having played some very high-energy games. While the shooting power faded, the effort remained high and they have set themselves up for a great season.

16.6 Girls
The girls had a fantastic tournament. Matched against fairly level opposition with varying game styles provided a great experience for the girls. Eventual runners-up to Eltham 4, the girls had their first experiences against zone defences and had to find new methods to score. Highlights of the tournament were a come-from-behind win against Darebin 2, which also employed a zone, and a 13-point semi-final win against Diamond Valley 5. Well done, girls.

18.1 Girls
A great reward for effort for the group. After a tough start to grading, it was great for the team to have some success against some good opposition during the tournament. We threw a lot of new things at them leading in to the first game and to their credit they implemented everything well and put in 100 per cent. A very balanced pool meant a lot of games went down to the wire, and nothing was certain leading into finals. Finishing on top of the ladder, the girls went into the first final too comfortable and after a slow start fought their way back to win and grab a grand final spot at the lovely warm time of 3pm. A tight contest had both teams taking the lead off each other throughout the game. With a few tired and sore bodies running out of energy, we unfortunately lost by two points. A fantastic effort from all.

18.2 Girls
Having a full squad available made this tournament excellent preparation for the next phase of grading. It was disappointing to give up a sizeable lead in our first game, resulting in a one-point loss to a team from Canberra. However, there were some strong positives: a hard-fought draw against Eltham 2 (which went on to win our grade) and a nine-point win over Bulleen 2. We came through the tournament injury-free, and the tough tests under pressure have us well prepared for the next phase of grading.

18.3 Girls (pictured)
Anticipation was high leading into the tournament as it would be the first time all season we would have our whole team available. I was excited to see how the girls would go.

Game 1: Lost to Whittlesea 2 by three points
Good effort first-up. The game was close the entire time with a couple of turnovers costing us late, although lots of positives. 

Game 2: Lost to Ringwood 3 by three points
A sloppy game in which we couldn’t hit a shot for most of it. Nearly pinched the game after a very late rally.

Game 3: Defeated STC 1 by 46 points
Registered first win of the tournament. A good confidence builder. Everybody smiling.

Game 4: Defeated Darebin 2 by 12 points.
A slow start that required us to work hard to be tied at the half. Excellent defensive pressure in the second half and solid offensive execution gave us a well-deserved win.

Game 5: Lost to Broadmeadows 3 by seven points
In a strong and physical game, we were up late but a few turnovers let Broadmeadows score a few consecutive baskets to get the win. Although a disappointing loss, good lessons learned and some great preparation for the next games.

Semi-Final: Defeated Broadmeadows 18.3 by six points
Another slow start but a strong, even game from all players. We played great defence and were composed down the stretch in a tight finish.

Grand Final: Defeated Ringwood 18.3 by 11 points
The best game we played all tournament with every player contributing. A great first half of offence and pressure on the defensive end. The team was composed in the second half as the opposition made a run towards the end of the game to get to 1 point down. Smart use of the ball and well executed defence enabled us to extend the lead back out to double figures.

The tournament provided a chance for our team to finally all play together, bond on and off the court and get ready for the start of the season. We started slowly, but improved greatly throughout the weekend developing a great brand of composed pressure basketball. I am elated for the girls with their tournament win, it was well earned and well deserved. Thank you to TM Jacky for all her organising and to the girls and parents for the commitment and support. Bring on the regular season. Go Dragons!

20.1 Girls
The girls played together for the first time and showed impressive growth with each game. They improved consistently, played excellent team defence and adapted well to our new plays. On Sunday night, they competed in two finals, delivering their best basketball of the tournament. Despite having only eight players, they secured victories against Altona and Ringwood. On Monday, they faced Warwick and even though they put up a strong effort, they narrowly missed out on reaching the Grand Final. A huge thank you to all the players and parents for a fantastic weekend. We’re excited for the season ahead!

20.2 Girls
The girls had a successful tournament, especially considering it was their first time playing together as a team and that we competed with only eight players.

On Friday night, we started strong with a 34–31 victory against Darebin.

In game two, we faced BDU Lightning, which went on to win the tournament. Despite encountering a zone defence for the first time and being undersized under the ring, the girls put up a strong fight but fell short, 39-29.

In game three against Whittlesea, we again faced a zone defence but showed noticeable improvement in breaking it down compared to game two. The girls boxed out strongly despite being significantly undersized, but the game ended in a 43-33 loss.

Game four was our best performance yet. The girls played as a team, moved well off the ball, attacked the basket, and helped each other on defence. Their determination led to a comfortable 58–36 win.

Our final game was against St. Mary Sharks, in which the girls played hard but ultimately fell by just four points, 50–46, finishing the tournament in fifth place.

|Overall, it was a successful introduction for the team ahead of our season starting in March. The girls improved their chemistry, practised our offences in games to demonstrate their ability to make smart and creative scoring decisions and quickly learned the effectiveness of proper boxing out when facing taller opponents.

• To read Eltham Dandenong Tournament reports from our Boys team coaches, please click HERE.

• The Dragons thank our partners, including Steadfast Taswide (Victoria), for their outstanding support of our club and Camberwell Basketball. To find out more about Steadfast Taswide (Victoria) and all of our partners, please click HERE.

Tourney Update

Camberwell Dragons Boys team coaches have their say on last weekend’s Eltham Dandenong Tournament. Reports written by team coaches unless otherwise specified.

12.1 BOYS
The boys had a weekend of ups and downs. We focused on the main concepts of commitment to our structure, which was achieved throughout their effort. I could not fault their effort and love the chemistry the team has. We have a lot to improve on but we are tracking in the right direction.

12.4 BOYS (pictured)
The boys started the tournament a bit rusty after the Christmas break and we were beaten by Hawthorn 4 by nine points after missing a lot of easy shots.

Saturday saw us play Eltham 3, a team higher than us in VJBL grading. The boys rallied from their Friday night defeat to play extremely well, getting out to a 15-point lead at one point and then holding their nerve to come away with a four-point win.

Our second game on Saturday (traditionally not so good for us as fatigue starts to set in) was an amazing game. We defeated Diamond Valley 5 by 37 points. A great team effort.

Sunday saw us play two game – firstly against Coburg 2, which we are scheduled to play tonight in VJBL grading. The boys continued their great teamwork and work ethic to win by nine points.

The second game on Sunday was against Eltham 4. Even though the semi-finals had already been locked in, our boys won easily by 14 points.

Our semi-final was against Eltham 3 and we knew they would be looking for revenge against a team that had already beaten them in the tournament and was graded lower than them in VJBL. The boys followed our team structure to a T. Lots of pressure in defence and patience in offence saw us come away with a 21-point victory.

The grand final was against our old foe Hawthorn 3, which had beaten us in the earlier game of the tournament. From the outset our boys showed Hawthorn they meant business, with amazing pressure in defence and only taking (and making) smart shots in offence.

The discipline paid off with a 29-point win and a gold medal as a result. An amazing tournament all round, in particular to see the progress of our boys throughout. Discipline, teamwork, defensive pressure and patient offence was a winning formula!

12.5 BOYS
The boys had a tough tournament, winning only one of their five games. That said, there was a big learning curve throughout and there was much improvement from Friday to Sunday. The tournament definitely illuminated our weaknesses as a team and has put us in good stead to improve into the upcoming season.

12.6 BOYS
The boys had a solid Australia Day Tournament. Although it didn’t show in our results, the boys demonstrated what they are capable of when at their best.

The first game against Nunawading 8 was a demonstration of how great defence wins games. Going into the half the teams were neck and neck. However, the boys went on a big six basket to nothing run to start the second half and didn’t look back, grabbing the win, 43-30.

The second and third games, against Ringwood 7 and Kilsyth 6, were very similar. Showing glimpses of the team at our very best, in both games we jumped out to early leads inside the first 10 minutes. However, as the game wore on and the pressure increased, the boys struggled to play good, structured team basketball, often trying to win it themselves. This resulted in a run of missed shots and bad turnovers, which led to easy buckets for both teams. We lost both games, 47-32 and 36-28.

The fourth game was tough. It felt like we were in it all the way. However, we never had the hot start we had in previous two games, and our defence, although great in bursts, was not enough to keep us in the game as our offence left something to be desired. Once again, the team defaulted to individual basketball going away from our good, structured team basketball. We lost 39-21.

The last game was a fantastic battle. We were great for 90 per cent of the game, playing as a team, working hard on defence and maintaining our spacing on offence. Unfortunately, a couple of late turnovers and relapses into individual basketball offensively saw us lose the game 32-29.

The boys should be proud of themselves. Although the results weren’t quite there, their effort throughout the tournament was. That is a big compliment to give these children as tournaments are always tiring for them.

12.7 BOYS
The boys started the weekend with a heartbreaking loss on Friday night. After a slow start we stormed home, scoring 12 points in the last three-and-a-half minutes to make a bid to steal the win. However, it wasn’t meant to be, with a game-tying shot waved off at the buzzer.

The boys then stepped up and bounced back in a big way with a strong win against eventual champion Nunawading – its only loss of the tournament.

They followed it up with a nail-biting two-point win against Ringwood after Hamish got to the line and knocked down three free-throws after the buzzer to win the game. 

The boys had a slow start to Sunday with a 15-point loss, but immediately turned it around with a massive 45-point win later that day.

After finishing fourth, we were set for a semi-final match up against first-placed Nunawading. The boys played a good game and were competitive with them, but at the end of the day were beaten 56-40 by a well-drilled team that was just better on the day. The boys showed some really good signs over the weekend and are raring to go for the season.

14.2 BOYS
The boys went into the weekend undermanned, with only seven players available. Despite the constant threat of exhaustion and tiredness, the team came out of the round robin phase with a 2-1-2 record. Highlights included a seven-point comeback win over Hawthorn 2 to kick off the weekend, a draw against North Adelaide 2 despite being down by as many as 10 points, and a 20-point revenge win over Collingwood 1 – a team we lost to before Christmas. The most pleasing aspect was the team’s offence in scoring 40 or more points in every game despite this being an area we struggled in last year. Although our weekend ended with a disappointing semi-final loss on Monday morning against Altona 2, the boys showed great intensity and fight throughout the tournament and persevered despite the lack of numbers. Thanks to all the parents for their support, team managers Susie, Ash and Kelly for their hard work, and to the boys for an enjoyable weekend.

14.3 BOYS
The tournament provided a great return to court for the 14.3 boys. We dusted off some rust and worked on building up our style of play on court, and chemistry off court. We were competitive in all five of our games and managed to secure one good win while in all other games we were within striking distance but couldn’t quite get over the line. We played some great basketball in patches and got a great picture of where our team is at, some of the areas of our game we need to prioritise, as well as some areas we need to take a longer-term focus to.  We are looking forward to an exciting season ahead.

14.4 BOYS
We started off the tournament very rusty, losing our first game to an opponent everyone else in the competition beat.

On Day 2 we won our first game and started to catch some rhythm, before we lost to Broadmeadows 2 by four points in a close on.

We hit day Day 3 with a point to prove and came out swinging, winning both our games by more than
30 points to place us second on the ladder and into the finals.

We cruised through the semi, beating Diamond Valley by 25 points to set up another game with Broadmeadows 2 in the grand final.

We started slowly and were down by 10 at the half. We regrouped at halftime, changed some things up and went on a run, led by Jeremy li and Hunter Haselden, to go ahead by 11 (Yes, you read that correctly – a 21-point turnaround!). We cruised through to win the tournament, with Hunter named MVP and Jeremy finishing the game with 24 points. A great effort by the boys.

14.5 BOYS
Our boys had a tough tournament and unfortunately lost to Warrandyte in the semi-finals. But as a collective, the whole team worked really hard and came out better than when we started. We had multiple kids step up and show their potential, putting us in a great spot going into the rest of the season.

14.7 BOYS
The 14.7 Boys squad had a great tournament, winning three of its six games and making it into the semi-finals. After wins against Blackburn 4 and Wyndham 6, and narrow losses to Ringwood 6 and Nunawading 6, the most impressive performance of the event came in the team’s final pool game, when the boys toppled previously undefeated ladder leader Altona 4. Unfortunately, Altona responded the following morning, getting the better of our group in the semi-finals on its way to winning the title. Overall, it was another fantastic tournament from this team, which has shown great improvement across the 2024-25 season thus far. Big thanks to James for his excellent assistant coaching and to the parents for their support across the weekend, particularly team manager Cameron Ramsay.

14.8 BOYS
The boys started the tournament very well, winning their first three games with excellent teamwork, grit and determination. Unfortunately, we lost a couple of very close games, including the semi-final against Ringwood. Defence was much improved but we need to continue working on offence. The boys are excited and determined for the season ahead.

16.2 BOYS
The boys had another really beneficial tournament and continued to show significant improvement. Went 4-1 in pool games, had a great win in the semi-final and then a narrow loss to a top-age Blackburn 1 team. The weekend definitely has provided us with some momentum going into the next phase of grading. The team should be proud of their efforts and keep their heads up from a team and individual perspective! Shout-outs to Bailey Russell for a three-quarter court shot and Nathan On for a half-court shot. Go Dragons!

16.4 BOYS
The boys had a good tournament and it was a great opportunity to get back into basketball before the re-start of grading. Although we only had one win, three of our losses were by two points or fewer, which shows our competition was close. Passing, half-court defence and shooting were strengths across the weekend.

16.6 BOYS
The boys developed well throughout the tournament and set themselves up well for the next stage of grading. On Friday night we started with a 64-40 win against Hawthorn EDL, then on Saturday dropped a winnable game against Ringwood 4 (38-32) and went down to a strong academy team from WA (63-37). The boys were outsized against the WA team, but their intensity was great and they worked hard right to the end. On Sunday, we started with a close win against Blackburn 3 (38-35) and then played our best all-round game against Kilsyth 5 to win 54-23. We finished fourth with a 3-2 record and played the WA Academy team (In Front Lakers) again in the semi-final, going down 76-46. Overall, we had strong contributions from every player throughout the tournament with our team structure and chemistry improving significantly.

16.8 BOYS
The boys went 3-2 in pool play, finished third and advanced to the semi-finals. They ran up against some big boys but displayed some strong team rebounding and consistently improved their collective scoring output. While we ran into the eventual winner (Ringwood) in the semis, we identified several positives we’ll now take into the next phase of grading. Well done, boys.

18.1 BOYS
I thought I would write an acrostic poem for our tournament report. I chose the word “slay”.

S is for supremacy. We won the grand final 68-62 against Eltham.

L is for laughs. We had a great time at our team picnic between games, as well as our team dinner at the Lower Plenty Hotel.

A is for active. We were very active defensively and put heavy pressure on the opposition at all times.

Y is for “You don’t know what is about to happen”. We like to do some pretty rogue and random stuff.

Shout-outs to Xave for winning Grand Final MVP, TM Megan for keeping us functioning smoothly and DJ Marinos. Go Dragons!

18.2 BOYS
The boys had a fun and challenging tournament over the weekend. Despite dropping our first game, it gave us the much-needed confidence to bounce back to our usual standard of play. The boys followed up with four strong wins to land us in second place going into the finals. Despite coming up short in the semi we believe we’ve taken another step in the right direction with our development and have seen great improvement from individuals and as a team.

18.3 BOYS
The boys had a great tournament. We were the lowest-ranked team in the grade but managed to win four of our five pool games, finished second and went on to win our two finals. The boys played superbly with everyone playing their role.

18.5 BOYS
The boys played hard. In a tight grade they fought to finish 3-2 in their pool games and then stepped up to make it through to the semis. Despite going down in a strongly contested grand final in the heat, the boys got what we wanted out of the weekend. All the cobwebs were blown away, we honed skills and systems, built on team bonds and of course had a great time doing it. We’re ready for the next phase of grading. – Assistant Coach Mat Trainor.

18.6 BOYS
The 18.6 Boys had a strong tournament where after the first four games they were 2-2, having either won or lost those games by fewer than 10 points, so all very close. 

The fifth game was against top-of-the-table, Tuggeranong Vikings (ACT) 18.1, and while the boys played well we went down by 25 points, our largest defeat. 

The next day we had to play the Vikings again in the semi-final. Having seen how they played the day before, we made a few changes and surprised them to lead by five points at halftime. The Vikings surged in the second half to lead by 13 points, before the boys clawed their way back to eventually go down by five points, 57-52.  No team in the pool got closer to the Vikings, who went on to win the grand final.

Over the three days it was great to see the boys bond and start to play some great basketball together. They showed great character when they were down in any of the games to fight their way back, winning a few and going close in others. I was very proud of the boys and how they conducted themselves as individuals and as a team throughout the tournament.

This tournament experience will set us up for greater success as we return to the next round of grading. The boys and coach are looking forward to the rest of the season.

• To read Eltham Dandenong Tournament reports from our Girls team coaches. click HERE.

• The Dragons thank our partners, including BNF Coaching, for their great support of our club and Camberwell Basketball. To find out more about BNF Coaching and all of our partners, please click HERE.

State of elation

Some things really are worth waiting for. We can say without hesitation this piece is one of them.

Yes, it took us a few weeks after our Dragons on Tour USA group returned to Melbourne from the United States to get it done, but we finally caught up with seven members of the travelling party and asked them to reflect on their time on the road. This is what they told us:

CONOR MATHEWS, COACH
“The USA tour was an unforgettable experience I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of. Competing against American high schools was both challenging and exciting, as their fast-paced, physical style of play pushed us to grow individually and as a team. Coaching during the games was especially rewarding – it was inspiring to see the players adapt, embrace the challenges and play with passion and resilience. 

“Outside of the games, the trip was filled with incredible highlights. Attending college basketball games and experiencing the electric atmosphere first-hand was unforgettable. Exploring iconic destinations like Disneyland and Universal Studios added to the excitement, and the team bonding over meals – especially at some amazing BBQ restaurants – made the experience even more special. 

“If you’re considering joining this program when Camberwell Dragons run it again, I couldn’t recommend it more. It’s a life-changing journey that offers growth, connection, and memories that will last a lifetime.”

DANNI FIDGE, COACH
“Our trip was amazing! It was great to coach against different styles of play, which provided new challenges to the players and us as coaches. Going to the colleges and college games was so much fun and such a great experience as well. The whole trip was incredible and worth all the long flights.”

HAMISH CAMPBELL-BURNS, PLAYER
“The USA tour trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I was glad to be a part of it with a supportive group of players, coaches and parents I have made friendships with for a lifetime.

“We had some challenging but also exciting moments during our time playing against American high schools as it is a completely different style of game over there.

“There were many amazing memories but some of my highlights included going to Crypto Arena to watch the Lakers vs Spurs and also Disneyland and Universal Studios. If you are considering doing this when Camberwell Dragons run the program again, I highly recommend it, as it was a life-changing experience.

LIAM EDWARDS, PLAYER
“Our basketball trip to the USA was an unforgettable experience, exposing us to a different style of basketball, often slower paced but more physical, that challenged us away from home.

“Despite challenges such as the LA wildfires, the coaches and parents were incredibly organised and supportive, ensuring the trip remained productive and enjoyable. Travelling with a large group of friends added to the adventure, creating lasting memories and making it one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.”

ISSY TAN, PLAYER
“This trip was absolutely incredible and is definitely a core memory for me and many others. It was packed with so many things for us to do, like visiting colleges, watching NBA games, and, of course, trying all the local fast foods.

“My favourite memories were the game days, where we would drive to a school and each team would play consecutively. Everyone would cheer each other on and it created such a strong bond between the group. Meeting and having a meal with the American team afterwards was also so cool.

“Another highlight was when it snowed in North Carolina and we had snowball fights in the car park. This trip was the most exciting three weeks of my life!!”

CELESTE ROSIER, PLAYER
“The new experiences and the basketball games both watched and played created an experience of a lifetime, and if I had the chance I would go again. The memories created with new friends, long-term friends and friends made with Americans will be remembered for time and time to come.”

SAM ASSI, PARENT
“I had a wonderful experience on the USA tour. The schedule was loaded but we had heaps of fun. Watching the girls and boys play against some real challenging teams highlighted the true fighting spirit of the Camberwell Dragons. Hats off to Conor and the coaches for their tremendous organisational skills and ability to remain calm when needed.”

• If you were a player, coach or family member on the road with the Dragons in the US and would also like to share your experiences with the Camberwell Basketball family, we’d love to hear from you. Send your reflections to Camberwell Basketball Communications Manager Andrew Johnstone at [email protected] or call 0425 791 610.

• The Dragons on Tour USA travelling party was proudly supported by global law firm Hogan Lovells and Richmond-based Stronger Healthcare.

Well done and thank you to all who helped make this an unforgettable trip for our young players, coaches and travelling family members.

Tourney Update

Updated at 2.40pm today – January 30

There was a lot to like about our 14.7 Boys, who put together a 3-2 record over the weekend before being turned back by Altona 14.4 in the semi-finals of the Under 14 C6 (Eltham) competition at the Eltham Dandenong Tournament on Monday.

Look out for our coaches’ reports from the tournament here later in the week.

The Dragons take this opportunity to thank our partners, including Squires Loft Camberwell, for their great support of our club over the long weekend and throughout the year. To find out more about Squires Loft Camberwell and all of our Camberwell Basketball partners, click HERE.

To our Dragons family – thank you for supporting those who support us.

All Camberwell Dragons results at the Eltham Dandenong Tournament:

12 Girls Development Squad
Closed with a 1-4 record.

12.1 Girls
Under 12 A Girls Semi-Final: Frankston 12.1 d. Dragons, 40-22.

12.2 Girls
Under 12 B2 Girls East (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Hawthorn 12.1, 33-32.

12.3 Girls
Closed with a 2-3 record.

12.4 Girls
Under 12 B4 Girls Central (Eltham) Grand Final: Hawthorn 12.2 d. Dragons, 13-12.

12.5 Girls
Under 12 C2 Girls East (Eltham) Grand Final: Ringwood 12.2 d. Dragons, 26-16.

12.6 Girls
Under 12 C4 Girls (Eltham) Semi-Final: Coburg 12.4 d. Dragons, 26-9.

14.1 Girls
Under 14 AR Girls Grand Final: Dragons 37 d. McKinnon 14.1, 37-26.

14.2 Girls
Under 14 B1 Girls (Eltham) Grand Final: Whittlesea 14.1 d. Dragons, 35-29.

14.3 Girls
Closed with a 1-4 record.

14.4 Girls
Under 14 C2 Girls Central (Eltham) Grand Final: Ringwood 14.2 d. Dragons, 21-15.

14.5 Girls
Under 14 C3 Girls East (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Waverley 14.4, 47-22.

14.6 Girls
Under 14 C4 Girls (Eltham) Grand Final: Surfcoast d. Dragons, 32-20.

14 Girls Development Squad
Under 14 C7 Girls (Eltham) Grand Final: Yorta Yorta d. Dragons, 8-2.

16.1 Girls
Under 16 A Girls Semi-Final: Armstrong (WA) d. Dragons, 32-28.

16.2 Girls
Under 16 B1 Girls (Eltham) Semi-Final: Swisherr Hoops Academy d. Dragons, 39-26.

16.3 Girls
Closed with a 2-3 record.

16.4 Girls
Under 16 C2 Girls (Eltham) Semi-Final: Hawthorn 16.2 d. Dragons, 36-33.

16.5 Girls
Under 16 C4 Girls East (Eltham) Grand Final: Kilsyth 16.5 d. Dragons, 33-17.

16.6 Girls
Under 16 C3 Girls North (Eltham) Grand Final: Eltham 16.4 d. Dragons, 39-27.

18.1 Girls
Under 18 AR Girls (Eltham) Grand Final: Westgate 18.1 d. Dragons, 40-38.

18.2 Girls
Closed with a 1-1-3 record.

18.3 Girls
Under 18 C2 Girls (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Ringwood 18.3, 43-32.

20.1 Girls
Under 20 A Girls Semi-Final: Warwick Senators (WA) d. Dragons, 34-27.

20.2 Girls
Closed with a 2-3 record.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

12.1 Boys
Closed with a 2-3 record.

12.2 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

12.3 Boys
Under 12 B4 Boys (Eltham) Semi-Final: Diamond Valley 12.4 d. Dragons, 61-35.

12.4 Boys
Under 12 B5 Boys Central (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Hawthorn 12.3, 50-21.

12.5 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

12.6 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

12.7 Boys
Under 12 C4 Boys East (Eltham) Semi-Final: Nunawading 12.7 d. Dragons 12.7, 56-40.

12.8 Boys
Closed with an 0-5 record.

14.1 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

14.2 Boys
14 B2 Boys East (Eltham) Semi-Final: Altona 14.2 d. Dragons, 72-42.

14.3 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

14.4 Boys
Under 14 B4 Boys North (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Broadmeadows 14.2, 62-55.

14.5 Boys
Under 14 C1 Boys (Eltham) Semi-Final: Warrandyte 14.1 d. Dragons, 53-41.

14.6 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

14.7 Boys (pictured)
Under 14 C6 Boys (Eltham) Semi-Final: Altona 14.4 d. Dragons, 47-30.

14.8 Boys
Under 14 C9 Boys East (Eltham) Semi-Final: Ringwood 14.7 d. Dragons, 33-28.

16.1 Boys
Under 16 AR Boys Semi-Final: Hoop Group Hornets d Dragons, 52-48.

16.2 Boys
Under 16 B3 Boys Grand Final Blackburn 16.1 d. Dragons, 40-37.

16.3 Boys
Closed with a 1-1-3 record.

16.4 Boys
Closed with a 1-4 record.

16.5 Boys
Under 16 C1 Boys (Eltham) Grand Final:
 Blackburn 16.2 d. Dragons, 51-40.

16.6 Boys
Under 16 C3 Boys East (Eltham) Semi-Final: In Front d. Dragons, 76-46.

16.7 Boys
Closed with a 2-3 record.

16.8 Boys
Under 16 C6 Boys East (Eltham) Semi-Final: Ringwood 16.7 d. Dragons, 69-45.

18.1 Boys
Under 18 AR Boys (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Eltham 18.2, 68-62. Grand Final MVP: Xavier Phan, Dragons.

18.2 Boys
Under 18 AR Boys (Eltham) Semi-Final: Eltham 18.2 d. Dragons, 44-33.

18.3 Boys
Under 18 B5 Boys (Eltham) Grand Final: Dragons d. Darebin 1, 58-52.

18.4 Boys
Under 18 C1 Boys (Eltham) Semi-Final: Marlins (WA) d. Dragons, 59-50.

18.5 Boys
Under 18 C1 Boys (Eltham) Grand Final: Marlins (WA) d. Dragons, 65-39.

18.6 Boys
Under 18 C3 Boys (Eltham) Semi-Final: Tuggeranong d. Dragons, 57-52.

20.1 Boys
Closed with a 1-1-4 record.

20.2 Boys
Under 20 Boys East (Eltham) Semi-Final: Kilsyth 20.2 d. Dragons, 62-26.