Port Macquarie's biggest basketball jam is back with the 2019 Seaside Classic making a slam-dunk return this weekend.
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More than 90 teams will compete in under-13, under-15 and under-17 men's and women's divisions during the carnival on November 2 and 3. Teams have travelled from Newcastle, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Bellinger, Central Coast and across NSW.
Games will be spread across the Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium, MacKillop College and St Columba Anglican School.
Port Macquarie Basketball Association president Andy Caltabiano said the annual gathering of basketball skill is the largest odd-age carnival held on the North Coast.
"It should be great this weekend," he said. "We filled up team spaces a month out and we have even had to knock back some teams because we were too busy.
"Hopefully it introduces Port Macquarie to a lot of other places. Once people come and play basketball here they are likely to come back.
"It also promotes basketball in Port Macquarie too. There is very basic skills levels in the junior teams all the way up to state level basketball in the top teams.
"We are currently hosting our representative trials for the upcoming season. We give all the kids in the trials a chance to play in the Classic," he said.
We want everyone to enjoy basketball, have a good weekend and hopefully show coaches what they have on the court.
- Andy Caltabiano
"We want everyone to enjoy basketball, have a good weekend and hopefully show coaches what they have on the court.
"A highlight for myself is watching the under 11s boys and girls getting out there for their first carnival representing Port Macquarie as a little dolphin. It's just a great thing to watch."
Players from the St. Joseph's Regional College girl's intermediate basketball team are sure to draw some big crowds after a recent win at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Championships State Cup in Penrith.
"Our under 17s should be a real highlight of the tournament. A lot of them have competed in Penrith and have already been invited to the Nationals competition in Melbourne in December," said Mr Caltabiano.
"They are a really strong Port Macquarie team, most attention will probably be directed to them and the finals on Sunday.
"There will be lots of people here with 90 odd teams, a great atmosphere and some really good basketball."
Games will start at 8am on Saturday morning on all nine courts with the final game starting at 8pm that day.
Matches will resume on Sunday at 8am on all nine courts with the finals starting around 2pm on Sunday.
Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting junior athletes selected for Basketball NSW High Performance Programs such as the Southern Cross Challenge and Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.