Hogan was a teenager making his way through the grades with the Junior Braves when he was asked to play in the A-grade men domestic competition.

"Kels was still playing in the A-grade competition and I remember rocking up to the game and seeing this old guy warming up in the opposition,'' Hogan said.

"I remember thinking to myself that I'd have no worries keeping up with him. I was wrong.

"He was the most athletic old man I'd ever seen and he continued to play like that for a long time."

Bell saw first hand Kelly's passion for helping young Bendigo basketballers improve.

"I have fond memories of coming to the stadium when I was a kid and seeing Kels around all the time,'' Bell said.

"He used to do individual training sessions with my sisters when I was young and I'd go and watch him.

"He was one of the most supportive people I've ever met."

Hogan and Bell have played in many big games for the Braves over their long careers, but few have been as special as this Friday night's Steve Kelly Memorial Game against arch-rival the Ballarat Miners.

Kelly, a Bendigo Braves great, passed away last October at the age of 59 after a battle with illness.

The Braves decided to dedicate the home game against Ballarat each year to Kelly, who played 252 games for the club, captained the team, was a member of the 1988 SEABL championship team and volunteered countless hours in junior coaching, promotions and fundraising.

"Kels was a huge advocate for local basketballers, be it male or female,'' Hogan said.

"The tributes that have come in for him and his family have been representative of who he was - a high-quality person who genuinely did it for other people.

"Hopefully, this game is somewhat representative of that for him and his family."

The player judged the most valuable player for Bendigo against Ballarat will be awarded the Steve Kelly Memorial Shield.

A minute's silence will be held before the start of the women's and men's matches, while a video tribute to Kelly will be shown prior to tip-off of the men's game.

The club will also stage a further tribute to Kelly during the half-time break.

Bendigo and Ballarat games are always big, but Friday night's game has huge ramifications for both sides in terms of the NBL1 South ladder.

After suffering a shock loss to Waverly on Sunday, the Braves (5-3) fell to eighth place on the ladder - just four spots ahead of the Miners (3-4).

"It's a massive game for us,'' Bell said.

"Our loss at the weekend wasn't ideal, so to go into a game against Ballarat at home, honouring Steve and fighting for ladder position is a perfect storm.

"It sets up for a good game and how guys will get up for that.

"The team is well aware of what Steve means to the club."

Tickets for Friday night's game are still available through Ticketek.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: