The 2023 AIC Basketball season demonstrated not only the wonderful level of skill and game awareness that exists within players in the Association but also the skill development capacity and tactical knowledge of the coaches at the eight AIC schools. The competition across all divisions was fierce, with the First V competition being decided in the final round of the season and seven schools winning a basketball premiership.

AIC Schools continue to give opportunities for basketball players in their community to test their skills against schools outside of our Association and internationally. This year, a large number of schools entered a number of the of the Champion Basketball School of Queensland Tournaments hosted by Basketball Queensland. With Covid travel restrictions now eased, a number of AIC schools have resumed overseas tours and one of the most popular is basketball tours to the United States. Over the next 12 months, the majority of AIC schools will travel to various locations in America to give their students an experience that both improves their basketball skills, but also develop a cultural understanding of the game from a different societal perspective.

First V Premiership
The First V premiership came down to the final round of the season, with two undefeated teams playing off for the premiership. St Peters were hoping to prevent Villanova from claiming a third First V premiership in succession. In a game of the highest standard, Villanova prevailed 61-57 to claim the premiership. St Edmund’s finished in third place.
AIC Premierships
Across the various AIC divisions, 7 schools won at least one basketball premiership in 2023. Congratulations to the following schools:
Iona: 2nd V*, 3rd V, 4th V, 11A, 10A*, 10C, 10D, 8C, 8D, 7A, 7B*
Villanova: 1st V, 9B, 9C, 9D, 7C, 7D
St Laurence’s: 10A*, 10B, 9A*, 8A, 8B
Marist College Ashgrove: 11B, 8C
St Edmund’s: 2nd V*
St Patrick’s: 9A
Padua: 7B*

Aggregate
Due to various Covid interruptions, this was the first time the “Aggregate Shield” was awarded since 2019. It was an incredibly tight competition with Villanova claiming the title with Iona a very close second and St Laurence’s in third place. This was Villanova’s eighth aggregate championship joining their successes in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.