The Lakes Entrance Basketball Association was recently voted as the best sporting club in Gippsland in TRFM’s Gippsland Greatest awards.
The club, which was founded roughly 50 years ago, got the most support in the online poll beating larger clubs from across the region.
Sporting clubs involved in football, netball, athletics, cricket and archery all entered, but it was the local basketball club that received the top honour.
Club vice president, Shannon Davis, said it was great to see all the hard work done by volunteers behind the scenes be recognised.
“We are a volunteer-based club and it’s great to get recognition for the hard work that gets done,” he said.
“We have outgrown our single court and are looking to expand in the future so the more publicity we get the better.
“As with most clubs around the area, there is a small group within the club that drives it forward trying to do the best for the whole club.”
Shannon thought the club’s tight-knit community, which put countless hours into ensuring everything runs smoothly, helped it edge out other much larger clubs for the award.
“I didn’t give us much of a chance as we were up against some much bigger towns with some big clubs, but the Lakes Entrance community really got around us,” he said.
“Honestly, it’s the like minded people that turn up week in week out, to coach, umpire, score or even just watch that helped us earn the award.”
Lakes Entrance Basketball Association is a hive of activity most nights as kids and adults of all ages take to the court to compete. The club also runs coaching clinics and the Aussie Hoops program, giving children between five and 10 the opportunity to learn the game in a fun and safe environment.
“We run junior competitions from under 10s all the way up to under 19s and we have very strong men’s and women’s competition that continue to get better every season,” Shannon said.
“We also run a representative program with teams in under 10, 12, 14 and 16. Hopefully this season we will have our first team in the Country Basketball League.”
PICTURED: TRFM morning crew’s Gabi James (second from left) and Dan Robinson (far right) presented Lakes Entrance Basketball Association vice president and life member, Shannon Davis, life member, Tracey Le Maitre, and secretary, Penny Hammond, with TRFM’s Gippsland Greatest best sport club award last Friday. Sporting clubs involved in football, netball, athletics, cricket and archery all entered, but it was the local basketball club that received the top honour.
