ABA 2023: Darren Berry takes charge as president for second consecutive year

The Albany Basketball Association is gearing up for another highly-anticipated season with 255 teams registered in all competitions.

There will be 183 junior teams and 72 senior squads competing across their respective grades in 2023-24.

The season began on Monday, October 9, with the A-grade competition set to tip off on Tuesday night at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre.

Games will be played on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays while junior competitions will be held on Saturdays.

There has been movement in both A-grade competitions with the women’s top division featuring six teams while eight teams will face off in the men’s top grade.

Experienced basketball figure Darren Berry will take charge as president for the second consecutive season.

Berry said he was looking forward to basketball returning.

“We’re down about five teams last year but we’ve still got similar numbers overall,” he said.

“A couple of teams have dropped off in the junior grades but seniors have picked up.

“I’m feeling a bit more comfortable now we’ve got a season under our belt with a lot of new members too.

“We were up against it for a while without Nicole Weeden there last season.

“After a year of finding our feet, things seem to running a lot smoother.”

“We have a new website up and running which will incorporate all the fixtures into it as well.”

Berry said the ABA was also hopeful of securing an NBL1 fixture at some point next season.

“We’re trying to get an NBL1 game down here which would run in the April or July school holidays,” he said.

“Then we’re just focusing on organising all of our kids for the State championships, and keeping our Raiders development squads going strong.”