In the late fifties interested people in this district began to participate in basketball and entered a team in the already established Ballarat Basketball Association.

This team comprised of Neil Thornton, Don Sinclair, John Mason, Jack Hoysted, John Muir, Doug Dellar and Greg Waters. Others became interested after this.

A catastrophic storm in 1960 on New Year’s Eve caused considerable damage in the area including destruction of buildings at the Showgrounds in Gillies St. It was during the rebuilding process the late Alf Leech suggested that the new building should have a suitable facility for community groups to use rather than the storage shed that it previously was. Government grants were obtained for the rebuilding process as well as community working bees to construct the first “Tin Shed.”

The “Tin Shed”, with its concrete floor was used for basketball, Badminton and Table Tennis, under the auspicious of The Maryborough Sporting Bodies.

In 1961, the Maryborough Amateur Basketball Association was formed.

Early 1962, the first games were played, the “Tin Shed” may well be regarded as primitive today, as it was hot in summer and subject to flooding at times, but established Basketball in Maryborough.

In 1963, Women entered the competition. The original clubs were; Defenders, Hawks, MCYC, Saints, Scribes, Surfers, Tektites and a composite club of Ballarat Players and spare MABA players.

Over the years more clubs have joined the association, Dunolly Dodgers, Tigers, Avoca/Aztecs Bullets and Hawks (which are an all female club).

The association offers basketball from ‘A’ grade men’s and women’s competition down to under 10, plus skills for four to eight year olds.

What now is skills, started as Biddyball in 1967, the aim was to teach younger children the skills of the game in a fair and safe manner. In time it was so successful that a junior competition was incorporated into the association.

There have been many changes over the years, from playing in Ballarat to the building of the first court in Maryborough, then in addition the second court. The next major change was the need for a more modern facility. After much fundraising and grants from the Government, Council and the Association, the new stadium was built. It was evolved with a heated swimming pool , gymnasium and exercise room added to the complex, this move occurred in 1986.

Over the years there have been many people who have excelled in the sport of basketball as State Representative Players, Coaches, Referees and Administrators. Notable standouts in the Association are Noel Pollard and Bob Osborne, both have been active members within the Maryborough Association as well as at Country Victorian Basketball level. Noel coached the U16 State Girls team for three consecutive years, winning the first National Championship title one year.

Bob has a distinguished career in Basketball being President of the Victorian Country Basketball Council for many years. Both have received the” Jack Terrill Memorial Medal” for outstanding services to Victorian Country Basketball.

Maryborough Basketballer, Matthew Dellavedova is to be added to the notable standouts more recently achieving his lifelong dream of playing for the Australian Boomers side. Matthew playing in the Boomers 2012 London Olympic side, prior to the Olympics Matthew played College Basketball at St Mary’s College of California and is currently signed with NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers.