Home grown Lakers set to test themselves on national stage
Within four years of taking their first step into senior men’s basketball, Cavan Lakers are set to take another major stride by entering the Basketball Ireland Development League (BIDL) for the first time.
It is a landmark moment for a Senior Men’s programme that only began in 2022, when the Lakers first entered the North East regional league (NEBB). Now they are preparing to face teams from across the country as Cavan Lakers takes its first step onto Basketball Ireland’s national pathway.
Established in 2009 as a juvenile club, Cavan Lakers have grown enormously over the past 17 years and today boast over 370 members. The Cavan town based club field 19 juvenile teams - from U10 up to U18 for both boys and girls starting, alongside both a senior ladies and senior men’s team.
The club plays its home games at the 'Home of the Cavan Lakers', St Patrick’s College, Cavan, while teams train across a number of venues throughout Cavan Town and Ballyhaise.
Senior basketball is now firmly part of the Lakers' story - and this season the men are ready to take their place on the national stage. There is a tangible buzz around the club as preparations gather pace.
“Entering the BIDL is a huge moment for Cavan Lakers and particularly for everyone involved with our Senior Men," enthuses Cillian Moran, the senior men's coach.
“When we entered senior basketball in 2022, we were starting something completely new. To be preparing for national level basketball just four years later is a great achievement. The players and coaches have put a huge amount into getting here. There is ambition within this squad, and they are ready to test themselves against teams from across the country.
“We want to compete; we want to keep improving and we want to make our mark.”
Significant
What makes this achievement all the more significant is that the majority of the senior men’s squad is made up of home-grown Cavan Lakers talent. Many of these players began their basketball journeys with the club as young juvenile players and have progressed through the Lakers' ranks to reach senior level. The club is incredibly proud of this achievement.
And while the focus will be firmly on the senior men when they take to the court, their involvement in BIDL reverberates positivity throughout the club.
“For our younger players, this gives them something real to aspire to," observes Brendan Jennings, club chairperson. “They can now see a clear pathway from juvenile basketball right through to competing at national level with Cavan Lakers. That is hugely important for the club and for the generations of players coming through behind them.
“This is what we have been building towards. From a juvenile club established in 2009, to senior basketball in 2022, and now to the national pathway — Cavan Lakers is ready for what comes next.”
Behind that ambition is a committee that has been a driving force in turning plans into reality.
“Our committee is central to making things happen at Cavan Lakers," Brendan praises. “They work relentlessly throughout the year, not just keeping a busy club running, but constantly looking at where we can go next and how we can create bigger and better opportunities for our players.
“Getting our senior men to this point has taken drive, belief and a huge amount of work behind the scenes, and our committee has been instrumental in making it happen.”
Sponsorship
As Cavan Lakers looks ahead to an exciting season, the club is putting out a call to businesses and organisations to get behind the Cavan Lakers and help support basketball at every level of the club.
With opportunities available across the club, from its juvenile programme through to senior and national level basketball, the Lakers are keen to build partnerships with businesses who would like to support what the club is doing.
“Support from the local business community can make a real difference to what we can provide for our players and teams. We have a lot happening across Cavan Lakers and we would love to hear from businesses who would like to get behind the club and help us continue creating opportunities for basketball in Cavan.”
Businesses interested in supporting Cavan Lakers can contact cavanlakersbc@gmail.com to find out more about the sponsorship and partnership opportunities available.