The upcoming Warwickshire Basketball League campaign is all set for action, with a number of tantalising tales due to unfold over the course of the year.
The 2022/23 season delivered in drama, style and substance across the league and cup competitions, and if this year is to follow in the same vein, we’re in for an entertaining ride once again.
The action begins with a fixture sure to whet the appetites in Division One, as reigning league and cup champions Arden Griffins take on the new boys in the top flight, Yardley Defenders on Monday, September 25th.
The Defenders will need to live up to their name if they plan on picking up an early victory, with Arden having dominated proceedings last term, going undefeated across the previous campaign behind their frantic fast-paced, run and gun style.
Buoyed by the performances of the sharp-shooting Paul Roberts and high-scoring duo Sam Workman and Luke Hatfield, Arden have also added to their ranks with returning forward Adam Dawson replacing departing guard Kestas Rudaminas.
However, Yardley offer an unknown presence to their Division One opponents to start the season, so it will be intriguing to see how they get on in their maiden campaign.
Elsewhere in Division One, the opening week also offers up another mouth-watering tie between Tile Hill Trojans I and Coventry Tornadoes at Hereward College.
Tile Hill had to settle for a place below the top-dogs in the Spring, but they’ll be hoping to remedy that with a opening day victory over the Tornadoes, who will be hoping to whip up a storm themselves in the top flight.
Topping off the first week of action in the upper echelons of the Warwickshire Basketball League are Tamworth Tigers, who play host to recently promoted Rugby Rage.
Rage were superb in Division Two last season and have made the step up this season, but face a tough proposition in travelling to Tamworth to try and tame the Tigers, who relied heavily upon league leading scorer Lukasz Bolda throughout the recent campaign.
Bolda will be hoping to add to his individual award with a challenge for team honours in the league this campaign, we’ll have to see how they get started on Wednesday, September 27th.
Delving into Division Two, there are a plentiful selection of fixtures on offer.
The second Rugby-based side across the divisions get their tenure going on Friday evening as they host Coventry Tornadoes White. That fixture is sure to be a litmus test for both clubs as they look to build chemistry heading into the season ahead.
Elsewhere, Jack Ford’s Westwood Rhinos face off with Nuneaton Predators. The Rhinos utilised Ford’s scoring prowess superbly over the last campaign, and they’ll be hoping to turn Predators into prey as they make the trip to Nuneaton on Monday evening.
Our two Tile Hill Trojans sides in the second division both feature in separate encounters to cap the first week of action, with Trojans II travelling to Coventry Tornadoes Blue, whilst Trojans III host JM Grizzlies on Thursday evening as each side looks to get off the mark.
That leaves only recently relegated Warwick China Red and new entrants Nuneaton Nomads to start off their seasons the following week – one certainly to keep an eye out for!
As ever, results will be provided in the next edition of the Bear Facts, with a match report from a select game each week accompanying the weekly round-up!