THE 2019-20 season basketball season is starting to take shape after the Redbacks selected its squads and officials earlier this week.
Ararat Basketball Association president Casanda Woods will coach the under 18 boys squad and Mark Lever will take up the role of assistant coach.
Woods said it was fantastic to have Lever on board, who she herself has trained under in the past.
"He's coached men, women and juniors, played himself and been involved in basketball for over 30 years," she said.
"Mark is a fair bit older than me but I used to train under him ... when I was a teenager, so it's someone I've known for a long time.
"I think it's great to have a male voice and to give those players some really good drills and skills."
Some of the players selected include Flynn Toner and Tom Cousins, who are both fresh from playing football in the V/Line Cup in September.
"A lot of these kids have been playing right through the representative program," Woods said.
"There's only a handful from under 12 but others have represented Ararat all that time and played domestically. I'm looking forward to this season with this group of boys.
"I've picked a squad of 10 and there are a couple of boys that I'll develop.
"There are a couple of new players to the Ararat squads as well in the under 16s and under 18s.
"For some of the (other players) it will be their last junior tournament, and that's always exciting and sad, but we're hoping they give the tournament a red hot shot."
Adam Burger will coach the under 16 boys squad and local netball gun Megan Shea will coach the under 14 boys squad.
"Mandy Sladdin and Megan Shea have also been busy getting the representative teams together," Woods said.
The first first tournament will be in Warrnambool across October 26 and 27.
Woods anticipates heading to about eight tournaments between the start of the season and June next year.
On the list so far are Warrnambool, Hamilton, Horsham, Bendigo, Portland, and several others.
The Redbacks are still putting together an under 12 boys squad and are also considering putting together a girls squad.
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