Exciting triple-header first up
BASKETBALL is positioned for a fast return to competitive action once stage three arrives.
In fact, Guernsey Basketball Association fixtures man Pete Beausire said they are prepared to ‘get the ball rolling’ with three matches on Friday 26 March if circumstances suit.
That ambition hinges on restrictions being dropped beforehand, Monday 22 being the earliest possibility, together with a positive call on St Sampson’s High’s availability.
‘If the schools allow us, if education allow us, we will be playing games on the Friday,’ Beausire said in jovial fashion.
While three Vistra League fixtures are in place for next Monday, Beausire feels these are too early to consider.
But he will be intent to pounce on any indoor training opportunities before the restart.
Indoor training falls under the same restrictions as matches, although stage two’s arrival has opened up outdoor, socially-distanced opportunities, including the allure of practising at Delancey Park.
‘Some of the guys might go up there and shoot around, just to be able to touch a ball again,’ Beausire added.
‘But as an association, we are not going to do anything structured or organised. If we were speaking a month on end, we would look at it.’
The two-month lockdown period has left at least 51 games to reschedule.
Speaking of the path ahead, Beausire confirmed that they would be dropping the traditional knockouts, though those could return as a pre-season tournament in September.
‘Our plan is to be finished by the end of June, so we have got July and August off.
‘A lot of people do summer sports and we do not want people missing out.’
If the vaccination process is complete and Sir John Loveridge Hall becomes available again, that would ease the rescheduling process.
But the GBA will be maintaining calendar dates wherever possible.
Their best-case scenario would make for an exciting first Friday night at St Sampson’s, including two currently unbeaten teams attempting to defend their honour against a double challenge from Le Mont Saint.
Women’s Division champions Ravenscroft would face LMS Storm seeking a sixth straight win, followed in Division One by Mayside, who have only played thrice so far but won all three, looking to close the gap on the LMS men’s outfit.
