Keysborough Cougars head coach Nathan Vogt (centre) will lead the club into its first season in the Big V competition, with players Rob Rosser and Matthew Vogt among those on the club’s inaugural list.By Glen Atwell
BIG V basketball is coming to Keysborough after local team the Cougars was announced as the newest addition to Victoria’s premier men’s basketball league.
The Keysborough Cougars leave the Melbourne Metropolitan Basketball League to become the 44th club admitted into the Big V competition.
But the path to the big league has been mountainous for the Cougars crew from Springers Leisure Centre on Cheltenham Road, having spent the past 18 months preparing for league membership.
The team lodged an application in 2004, but was advised by the Big V Board to delay their entry for another year.
Cougars’ president Robert Ford said a number of off-court issues were addressed before the club was ready to jump into the Big V league.
“Both parties knew the Cougars would be competitive in the Big V,” he said.
“It was a matter of finding the off-court personnel who could make a Saturday night Cougars game at Springers a success.”
Ford said the requirement to have qualified scorers, timers and statisticians at games reflected the professionalism of the Big V competition.
“Big V was the ultimate aim, it is the pinnacle of state basketball,” he said.
Big V president Darryl Neal said the league had focused on bringing in organisations that were not only competitive, but also “league ready”.
“The Big V has really focused on the off-court preparation for clubs, including the recruitment of key technical personnel that can help the new club in their early years,” he said.
Big V chief executive Matthew Cowling said Keysborough’s preparation had been exhaustive.
“The Big V is a full statistic league, and Keysborough has done all the work required to prepare themselves,” he said.
With a strong junior competition being nurtured at the Keysborough stadium, entry into Big V means developing Cougars can shoot straight into the big league.
“It opens up many doors for both our junior and senior players,” Ford said.
Star players Ben McLaren and Gavin Earl will headline the new-look senior side.
McLaren has spent time with National Basketball League side Brisbane Bullets, while Earl has had a long history in the Big V competition.
Nathan Vogt will coach the division two side and is aiming to play finals.
“Not only do we think we will be competitive, but I believe we can make the finals,” he said.
A number of new players have bolstered the playing roster of the Cougars, who will kick of their Big V season against their animal namesakes.
“We take on the McKinnon Cougars on April 1, in the first Cougar Cup, which will be up for grabs once a year,” Vogt said.
Vogt said he was looking forward to the local crowd turning out to support their Big V side.
“We had 200 people at a pre-season match recently, and we want to continue showing the community just how high the standard of Big V basketball is,” he said.
