By Tara Murray
The Whittlesea Pacers women’s basketball side will play in the Big V’s top division next season.
The league announced last week its structure for next year’s season, with several men’s and women’s division 1 teams being promoted to the state championship after the departure of four clubs to the new Senior Elite League.
The move of Knox Raiders, Ringwood Hawks, Waverley Falcons and Eltham Wildcats to the new Victorian-run league has opened up spots in the Big V state championship divisions.
No side has been relegated in the senior competitions.
Division 1 women’s premiers Warrnambool Mermaids had already earned promotion, while Casey Cavaliers (runners-up) and the Pacers (fifth) have also gone up.
For the Pacers, it will their first time in the top division since 2016.
The Pacers finished last that year, their first season in the top grade after winning the 2015 division 1 title.
The new-look structure also confirmed the promotion of Craigieburn Eagles women’s side to division 1.
The Eagles won this year’s division 2 title.
The Eagles last played in division 1 in 2016, when they won just three games and finished last.
Other sides to earn promotion are Coburg Giants (division 1 men), Waverley Falcons (Victorian Youth Championship men), Sunbury Jets (Victorian Youth Championship women), Frankston (youth one men) and Casey (youth one women).
Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association and RMIT will join the competition next year, with both clubs to field men’s sides.
