Ararat Redbacks have a bye this week after starting their 2020-21 Country Basketball League season in style at the weekend.

Ararat defeated Portland Coasters, 84-72, at Portland in the opening round of the south-west men’s conference. 

Zac Dunmore did not hold back, dropping 29 points – including three three-pointers – in a stellar performance. Team-mate Ethan Fiegert, 19, also finished with double figures, with nine other players contributing to the total. 

The season is a modified one due to COVID-related restrictions on sport throughout 2020. 

The regular season will run for seven weeks, with semi-finals on February 27 and grand finals on March 6.

Ararat is the only Wimmera team competing in the CBL competition this season.

Horsham Amateur Basketball Association decided to withdraw its men’s and women’s teams from the competition due to uncertainty surrounding player availability and a desire to focus on domestic and junior programs.

The association did send an under-18 team to Portland for a ‘scratch match’ with the Coasters.

The entire January 13, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!