BATHURST Goldminers have enjoyed a very active and healthy base of support from their juniors over the past few seasons but the same can't be said for their senior ranks in recent times.
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However, that could change in 2022.
Goldminers have been seeking expressions of interest to get women's state league and men's youth league squads together for next year's winter season, with the hopes of re-entering an arena where the Bathurst association once shined.
Bathurst Basketball United secretary Jade Pheils said it would be great for the sport to see senior Goldminers basketball in action again.
"We've had a large group of under 18s boys who have finished their time off in juniors so we're trying to encourage them to give youth league a go," she said.
"Then we have Hannah and Haylee Lepaio, Rachel Murray and Jess Matthews who are that little bit older, hence why we're going for the senior option with the women.
"Obviously with the new committee moving things forward we're hopeful that these two teams are something that's in our near future.
"I think it would be really good for the junior competitions as well because we'd be able to come together as a community and watch our seniors run around. That's my memory as a junior player. It was always great to have that game on a Saturday night to look forward to."
Not only are the Goldminers seeking interest for those two squads, but they're also seeing if they will be able to field a team for a pre-season under 20s competition.
Pheils said that competition could prove to be a valuable stepping stone for juniors looking to get a taste of senior basketball action.
"That will be held as a statewide competition and will be held over three weekends in January and February, held at Sutherland and Minto stadiums," she said.
"They're trying to make a bridge between juniors and youth league, because youth league is under 23s, and we're finding that for the kids just finishing under 18s it can be a big step up.
"They're hoping to develop an under 20s competition in the coming years to help make that bridge. That's something still in the works."
Goldminers' last major push to get two teams in Waratah State League competition's came back at the end of 2018, where the Bathurst association sought interest in men's and women's senior sides.
The Goldminers last fielded a senior team in the men's youth league competition across 2017 and 2018.
The senior women's previous appearance came in the 2017 season.
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