WITH the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) Under 18 Girls competition having completed nine rounds of play, it is time for the league to split in half. As is the case every year, the competition is now putting the strongest performing sides from the VC Ashe and VC Watson into the VC Championship division, with the remaining sides placed into the VC Reserve division.

>> SCROLL TO SEE THE COMPETITION STRUCTURES

It was an extremely exciting start to 2022 for the competition as a whole, with some contrasting performances from a number of the participating clubs. With scoring going through the roof in comparison to previous seasons, it was the sides that could produce a winning score on a weekly basis that soared to the top of the standings.

Bulleen 1 was the pick of the bunch in the VC Ashe division, finishing the ninth round at the top of the ladder, and setting the benchmark for the entire two-month period. They were able to dominate the opposition on the offensive end of the court, surpassing 85 points nearly every week, which is more than plenty of opposition sides could play. Their ability to share the ball and create the best shot on almost every possession is what separated them from the rest of the pack, and they will be one of the favourites heading into the upcoming competition.

From the VC Watson division, it is hard not to mention the efforts of the Kilsyth Cobras, who were undefeated to start season 2022. Their tough work on both ends of the court made them a tough matchup for any side, and the Cobras were able to dismiss any competitors that look to steal the throne. With weapons such as Georgia McBean able to hurt you essentially every week, Kilsyth will be right in the conversation for championship favouritism.

Also starting the year in strong fashion are the Casey Cavaliers, who were the second-best side in the VC Watson competition, with their biggest strength being their ability to produce a dynamic and unpredictable presence on the offensive end of the court.

Both competitions will kick off on Friday night, as sides reset to Round 1 and for those in the VC Championship division, the race for the title gets as hot as ever. There will be nine rounds of play before finals, with the home and away season set to conclude on the 19th of August. While the first half of the year was important in getting to this position, it is anyone’s game from here on in. Victoria’s premier female basketball talents have been a joy to watch so far, showcasing their dynamic and ever-improving skillsets, as the long-range shooting style of play across the league reflects how the game is trending across the world. The Australian basketball factory will continue to grow, and that will be on show in the crucial second half of the 2022 season.

Check out the teams and splits below.

VC Championship

Bulleen 1
Casey
Dandenong
Frankston
Gippsland United
Kilsyth
Knox
Melbourne
Nunawading
Sandringham

VC Reserve

Altona
Ballarat
Broadmeadows
Bulleen 2
Diamond Valley
Eltham
Hawthorn
Keilor
Waverley
Wyndham