Basketball tips off to flying start

The 2015-16 Dale Alcock Homes Bunbury Basketball Association A-Grade competition tips off tonight with a match-up between last season's champions Bulls Maroon and the winner of the previous three titles Aces Navy.

The Maroons have kept their core playing group intact, led by Slammers Trent Worthington, Jordan Hickert and Paddy Phillips, while Navy are headed by Slammer Wade Hitchcock along with Luke Deighton and the return of Jeremy Paull.

Last year's grand finalists Tornadoes Black begin their season against Aces White who will look to improve on their disappointing season last year.

Jason Smith will once again be the go to player for Black, with Nat van Dijk and Brendon Canzirri providing ample backup, while league leading scorer Jordan Sears will be primed to help White improve after regularly hitting the court for the Slammers this year.

Reigning wooden spoon holders Tornadoes Red will come up against Bulls Gold, who narrowly missed out on finals last season.

Tornadoes Red will once again look to Bree Dudek to produce a bulk of their scoring while Gold will look to young guards Shaun King and Cohen Thompson to chalk up a few early wins before Chris Douglas joins the team from the Australian College of Basketball in November.

Busselton, led by Beau Chinnery and Cameron Bell, start the season against Tornadoes Grey who have re-entered the competition after a short break.

Busselton are expected to be tough to beat this season.

They have successfully lobbied the Bunbury Basketball Association to schedule their home fixtures at Busselton's Geographe Leisure Centre against each opposition team throughout the 2015 season.

In the women's competition, Bulls will try to get some revenge against Aces White in a first round matchup between last season's two grand finalists. Bulls are once again led by guard duo Brittany Gliddon and Shannon McRobert, while White players Georgia Denehey and Tiahna Sears will be strong as always.

Tornadoes Black takes on Busselton, while Aces Blue, who will be led by Slammers captain Kate Fielding, have the bye.