On Sunday 11th February 2024, over 70 members of our club joined a sell-out crowd at John Cain Arena to watch Melbourne United take on the New Zealand Breakers in their second Grassroots Game of the season. The Grassroots Games are a celebration of amazing Grassroots communities and local hoops across Victoria and bring together thousands of young players and their families to watch Melbourne’s premier basketball powerhouse take the court. Always looking to support and champion basketball at the grassroots level throughout Victoria, United look to shine a spotlight on the clubs and associations that are working hard to develop the next generation of Australian ballers.
Pre-game, the kids (and some of the parents) took part in the various free activities around the Arena – shooting hoops, push-up comps, face painting, dribble and agility tests, dance comps and more, with many coming away with a prize.
We were thrilled to watch on as United took out their 19th win of the season with a 91- 84 point victory over the Breakers – their 10th win in a row against them! Melbourne held the lead for most of the game, but despite this, the visitors kept coming, cutting the deficit to as little as 10 points, however when it came down to the buzzer, United’s stars came through in the clutch to pretty much tie up top spot on the ladder, giving them home court advantage for first week of the finals. Surely it was our club cheering that helped them get over the line!
Post-game, those who came in their club gear had the opportunity to gain access to an exclusive post-match player signing with Melbourne United players, which was a huge thrill for many – young and old alike!
A fantastic day was had by all, and if you missed out this time, keep an eye out on the website and our socials for details on the next Grassroots game next NBL season and get in early to secure your tickets! We would love to get over 100 St Andrews Basketball Club players and families there next time!
As a result of the number of tickets we booked as a club, we were gifted a signed Melbourne United jersey which was won by the Hartigan family – congratulations to you!
