THE Hamilton Basketball Association is gearing up for another Country Basketball League (CBL) campaign, but it will be a more condensed season this time around.

Dean Le Roy has committed to coaching the squad again, with Scott Miller still weighing up the idea, with the pair co-coaches last season.

The season gets underway in October and will include double headers most weekends, with finals to be played in December, compared to February finals that were played last season.

Le Roy said the shorter season wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“It works better for us,” he said.

“We had 16 people put their hands up for selection then after Christmas we really struggled with numbers.

“So, the short season is a quick commitment, doesn’t drag out and will help.”

The decision was made by the leagues involved.

“There was a Zoom meeting with Basketball Victoria and there was a majority vote that voted for a shorter season,” Le Roy said.

“With a short season crossing over with junior squad, most of our top level squad coaches are coaching the junior teams which makes it hard to get that commitment from them for CBL.”

The Hurricanes had their first tryout on Monday and will have another one next week.

“There was quite a few apologies, some people carrying injuries from football,” Le Roy said.

“I think 12 attended the tryout and I had four apologies.

“I think there will be a couple of people who have stepped away.”

Last season’s captain, Erik Valka, and Sam Brewer are among the group who won’t be involved this season, due to junior coaching commitments, while Morgan Newns and Jackson Talbot are also omissions for the 2024-25 squad.

Le Roy is confident numbers won’t be an issue though.

“They always say the second year is always the hardest, the first year you get a lot of enthusiasm and the second year some people drop off,” he said.

“This year will be about creating a team and an environment and backing up last year with people understanding their roles a little more.

“The group we have got can still stand up though.

“If we can just keep the team together this season, then it will build into the third and fourth years.

“Last season we tried to keep a squad of 10, but if we go away for a double header and we have a conversation with some of the younger players, just keep rotating some of them through with fresh legs, then it may end up being more.”

The association is also hopeful it can field a women’s CBL team next season.