6th February 2026
Kym Cheeseman
Ballarat, Victoria – Our Victorian state teams have wrapped up a successful campaign at the 2026 Foot Locker Under-20 and Ivor Burge National Championships. Between our six teams we collected a full set of podium finishes, showcasing the depth of talent across the state’s high-performance pathways.
Leading the charge were the Ivor Burge Men, who delivered a dominant championship performance to once again be crowned national champions. Controlling the tempo from the opening tip in the gold medal game, Victoria proved too strong. Matt Farrar produced a standout offensive performance, pouring in 38 points in a commanding display. He was well supported by Jake De la Motte, who added 31 points, while Jack Inella contributed 24 points in a balanced and clinical team effort.
The Ivor Burge Women also impressed, fighting their way to a silver medal with a narrow two point defeat to New South Wales. Across the tournament they fought hard and showcased their determination and resilience in a true team effort.
In the Under 20 competition, Victoria continued to show its strength on the national stage. The Under 20 Men battled through a tough field to claim bronze, while the Under 20 Women narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth.
Victoria’s depth was further on display with its Navy teams gaining valuable national experience, with the Under 20 Navy Women finishing sixth, and the Under 20 Navy Men securing seventh, underlining the strength of the state’s development pipeline.
Dom Linossier, General Manager - Pathways Basketball Victoria reflects on the performances of our athletes throughout the championships: “We are proud of the way in which our athletes and staff represented our state at the 2026 U20 and Ivor Burge Foot Locker National Championships.
He continues,“Their performances are reflective of the time and effort the athletes, their families, their associations, and their coaches have put into their development. We are looking forward to continuing our support of each athlete throughout their pathway and onto the next step of their basketball experience. We hope the pride that comes with wearing the Victorian jersey leaves a lasting impression on them.”
Across all divisions, the championships provided an opportunity for emerging athletes to test themselves against the best in the country, with Victorian teams demonstrating skill, competitiveness and trademark team-first basketball throughout the tournament.
With medals secured and invaluable experience gained, the future of Victorian basketball continues to look exceptionally bright.
For more information about our Pathways programs click below.
