The Bendigo Braves will start their 2021 Country Basketball League campaign this weekend.
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The Braves men will travel across to Bacchus Marsh on Saturday to play the Lions, while reigning champions the Braves women start their season with a bye.
Both Braves squads are competing in the North West conferences.
CBL 2021's start date is later than normal due to COVID-19 restrictions throughout Victoria and this year it will include 130 regular games in a shortened seven-week season.
There will then be two weeks of finals with semi-finals and grand finals scheduled for the weekends of February 27 and March 6.
CBL coordinator Sammy Cartwright said it was rewarding to have the season go ahead after such a challenging year for basketball.
"It's an uplifting feeling to be able to hold a form of CBL," Cartwright said.
"The desire to get a season going was very evident and we look forward to getting back on the court.
"The main challenge was the unknown, which we are still amid really. We were trying to look at periods three months in advance and plan.
"Ultimately though, overcoming the unprecedented challenges is down to the commitment, resilience and desire of the country associations."
The Braves women's first game will be an away match in round two against the Echuca Pirates on Sunday January 17.
Meanwhile, the men will play their second game of the season and first home-court match against Castlemaine on Saturday January 16 at 7pm at the Bendigo Stadium.
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