The Kyneton Tigers have opted for youth as they prepare to kick off their campaign in the Country Basketball League north-west competition.
Second year Tigers coach Ash Clark said the club had made some changes over the break in order to foster more talent directly through their junior program.
Speaking before the weekend, he said the team was ready for the new fixture which includes some double-header weekends with games on Saturday and Sunday.
“We had a lot of players from the Macedon Ranges and Gisborne, but we realised after last season we weren’t providing the pathway for Kyneton juniors,” Clark said.
“We certainly don’t want to turn outsiders away, but when you find out your juniors aren’t going [in the senior program] because they feel there’s no spot, that’s something we wanted to fix.”
Clark said the best way to do that was to give the club’s youth a chance to prove themselves.
Corey Easter and Brendan McCarthy will lead the Tigers as co-captains for the season.
“We know it’s going to be a hard slog for us, our oldest player is 23,” he said.
“It is exciting with a young group. We’re realistic with where we’re at, which is a developmental stage, but the boys have been showing up in good numbers and everyone’s looking forward to it.”
On December 5, the Tigers will square off against the CBL’s north-west division’s newest side, the Macedon Ranges Rockies.
Oliver Lees
