Basketball
6 November, 2025
Intersport Horsham Junior Classic to bring basketball action
The 2025 Intersport Horsham Junior Classic basketball tournament will kick off this Friday, with almost 80 teams from across the state taking part.
Running from Friday November 7 to Sunday November 9, representative teams from under 12s to under 18s will take part in an action-packed weekend of basketball.
As well as the Horsham Hornets, nearby teams from Warracknabeal, Stawell and Nhill-Dimboola will compete against teams from Ararat, Colac, Portland, Maryborough, Terang and Warrnambool.
Games will take place at Horsham Basketball Stadium, St Brigid’s College, Holy Trinity Lutheran College and Horsham Primary School, as well as Dimboola Recreation Reserve and Warracknabeal Leisure Centre.
Matt Lovel, president of the Horsham Amateur Basketball Association, said the tournament offered young basketballers the chance to play in front of home crowds for the first time this season, having previously played in tournaments at Hamilton and Warrnambool.
“The kids get to play in front of their families and that’s a big thing for them,” Lovel said.
“Grandparents, brothers and sisters, friends can all come without having to travel away.
“Being able to represent Horsham at home is a very big thing as well.”
On top of providing entertainment for Horsham residents, Lovel acknowledges that having players and families from visiting teams will benefit the town.
“You're looking at about 80 teams with eight players per team, and then add in a parent or parents, and potential other family members coming along from these other locations, you're looking at probably close to a thousand people coming to the town for it,” Lovel said.
“It's good, not just us and the players but for local businesses as well.”
Also serving as the coaching director for the Horsham Hornets, Lovel said he was confident about the junior Hornets’ teams ahead of the tournament, as the teams had continued to progress in recent weeks.
“They've got a couple of tournaments under their belt now and they're getting used to playing with each other,” Lovel said.
“They’re starting to get used to the offences and stuff like that so things are starting to flow a little bit better.
“That's a bit of a tribute to just being around each other a bit more and experiencing more pressure situations in the tournaments, as opposed to just training.”
The action kicks off from 5.50pm today at Horsham Basketball Stadium.