Knox Basketball Inc., Frankston District Basketball Association and Kilsyth Basketball Association are pleased to announce they will be accepting expressions of interest from wheelchair basketball teams for the inaugural Heartland Tournament.

If Novembers Heartland domestic teams’ tournament, which is being proudly presented by South East Melbourne Phoenix, receives enough interest a wheelchair division will be added to the event set to be staged over the Melbourne Cup long weekend later this year.

Currently the tournament is set to include various grades in age groups from u/8-U/21 for both boys and girls playing in domestic competitions.

The Phoenix supported tournament will be run at Knox, Frankston and Kilsyth basketball associations and give domestic clubs across the South-East the opportunity to play like their Heartland Heroes in a tournament-style weekend.

The possible new addition to the event comes off the back of a successful ‘Rolling Phoenix’ wheelchair basketball holiday camp earlier this month, the first of its kind for the Phoenix community. Kilsyth Basketball Association also run a regular wheelchair competition.

It’s hoped a healthy number of teams will express interest in order to get the wheelchair basketball tournament officially added to the event.

All teams can express their interest to participate HERE.

Basketball Victoria Diversity and Inclusion Officer Jontee Brown says the wheelchair game is growing and needs events like this to continue flourishing.

“It’s an incredible step towards more opportunities for our Victorian wheelchair athletes to showcase their talents right here in the heart of Melbourne,” he said.

“With five Victorian athletes heading to this year’s Paralympic Games, now is such an important time to help our aspiring younger athletes in Victoria to play and compete against the state’s best.

“This tournament is just the beginning of hopefully something bigger here in Victoria and I’m excited to be a part of the journey to help our athletes be involved with such a professional club like South East Melbourne.”

Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer says inclusivity is a key pillar for the organisation.

“The potential to add wheelchair basketball to the inaugural Heartland Tournament is something we, along with the Knox, Frankston and Kilsyth basketball associations are proud of,” he said.

“Many of our biggest supporters are involved in wheelchair basketball and to allow them to play in the Heartland Tournament is pretty special.”

Knox Basketball CEO Grant Harrison is excited to see the wheelchair competition embedded within the tournament.

“As the founding member of this inaugural tournament we could not be more pleased or proud to introduce the wheelchair event into our tournament calendar,” said Harrison.

“Knox Basketball has been a long term supporter of Basketball Victoria’s wheelchair program and to see the high level of skills that will be displayed on court will be an amazing addition.”