Darren Berry appointed as new president of Albany Basketball Association ahead of bumper 2022-23 season

The Albany Basketball Association is gearing up for another big season with more than 250 teams registered and a new president elected. Experienced basketball figure Darren Berry takes the reins as president, replacing the outgoing Rob Whalley in the top job. The 2022-23 ABA season will start on Monday, October 17, and run games across four days every week at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre. There are more than 170 junior teams for the new season and more than 80 senior sides entered. Games will be played Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays while juniors and Aussie Hoops will be held on Saturdays. There has been movement in both A-grade competitions with the women’s top division to feature seven teams and six teams will face off in the men’s top grade. Griffins and Railways will enter the men’s A-grade competition while Ambassadors, Tigers and Raiders under-18 development squad have dropped out. Barking Owls, Sonics, Infernos and Denmark will make up the remainder of the men’s top division. In the women’s A-grade competition Bethel Breakers have come out with Barking Owls, Sonics Blue, Infernos, Sonics, Griffins, Railways and Raiders to take to the court this season. Berry said the association was excited to get the new season under way. “This time of year is always great,” Berry said. “The kids with the Raiders program, all the try outs are starting. “Kids are excited and have been training all holidays and the seniors are always keen to get the season off and going. “We have more than enough numbers still, last year we were probably a bit over maxed so we are a bit better off where we are now with the venue and umpires. “The younger junior age is always strong and top age of juniors always start to drop off a bit when they start working and high school studies. “It’s a bit hard to tell with A-grade but there is a core group of the women’s teams that will be pretty competitive and the men’s will be similar to last year.” Berry said the ABA was short of referees and encouraged anyone interested to come forward. Basketball WA will hold an association beginner course for referees on Sunday October 16 from 10am to 2pm at ALAC at a cost of $50. Berry has been part of the ABA committee for a couple of years and said he was happy to step up as president with the support of many passionate people in the sport. “Getting the support of everyone around us with the tragedy we’ve had in the off-season has been important,” he said. “Making sure we’ve got enough people on board to help us through and get us going. “It’s been good the last couple of months, the amount of people that have come out of the woodwork to offer their support and help where they can.”