WITH the countdown on until Hamilton’s Country Basketball League (CBL) return, Scott Miller and Dean Le Roy have been confirmed as joint coaches for the men’s team.

The pair will guide the squad through the 2023-24 South West Men conference campaign, with both excited about the Hamilton Basketball Association

The season gets underway tonight, with the Hurricanes having a round one bye, which sets up a round two double header in Hamilton next weekend to open the season.

Le Roy said it was mixed emotions going into the final week of preparations for the campaign.

“Personally (feel) a bit daunting, not really sure what we are getting into, but seeing and watching a little bit of it last year, my brother played, and also when Hamilton last had a team I watched a bit of it then,” he said.

“I know what we are up against, the level is tough, a lot tougher than here in domestic, but the team we have put together is up to the challenge and I think we can shock a few teams.”

The squad includes the likes of Joel Le Roy, Sam Brewer, Erik Valka and Josh Miller, with Valka being instrumental behind the scenes in getting the program going.

“One thing Erik has pushed as well is just taking that extra step up,” Le Roy said.

“CBL is a massive step up, it is fast-paced, the players are so much more athletic, different sort of defence and bigger bodies.

“Erik has been very strong on is everyone gets to training and everyone does fitness and stamina training, it will take quite a toll on some people but I think we have the right people around to support them.”

A return to the CBL has been largely player-driven, and with the coaching pair’s experience, the team is working hard to ensure the first season is a success.

“Players wanted to get it up and going, only Joel Le Roy has played CBL before, Erik pushed for it as well and once we got players, it was the coach process which they struggled with and that’s why we put our hands up, because we want to see it go ahead,” Miller said.

“Hopefully it can be as exciting as it was before COVID.”

“One thing we have been very transparent about with everyone is the first year, if we win a game great, but if we don’t, we are going to learn a lot,” Le Roy said.

“Second year we win some games, third, fourth and so on we start to become a lot more competitive.

“Rome wasn’t built in a year.”

The players have been training for about the past six weeks and with a mix of youth and experience in the squad, the possibility of wins during the season will keep motivation levels high.

“We have a few young kids who are keen,” Miller said.

“It is going to help the younger kids, seeing what they’re doing and hopefully it can continue.

“I reckon it will be a cracker first up, pity it didn’t happen this week with the junior tournament on.”

The full squad will be in next Saturday’s Spec ahead of the season opener against Warrnambool Seahawks next Saturday night at HILAC.