13th July 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
Bendigo, VICTORIA - Victoria has celebrated a memorable finish to the Foot Locker U16 National Championships in Bendigo, with the Victorian Country Women and Victorian Metro Men both crowned national champions after an outstanding week of basketball at Red Energy Arena.
Held from 4 -12 July, the Championships brought together the country’s best emerging basketball talent, with Victoria once again showcasing the strength of its performance pathway on the national stage.
The Victorian Country Women kicked off the gold celebrations, defeating the Victorian Metro Women 60–52 in an all-Victorian final to claim the Norma Connolly Trophy. The victory marked the Victorian Country Women's first U16 national title since 1990, when Australian Opal Kristi Harrower helped lead the team to gold, making the result an especially memorable moment for the program.
Then the Victorian Metro Men continued their remarkable dominance, claiming the Robert Young Shield with an unbeaten tournament and a hard-fought 94 - 85 victory over Queensland South in the gold medal game.
After trailing by 10 points during the second quarter, the team rallied to finish strongly, securing their sixth consecutive Under-16 national title and completing another undefeated campaign.
Individual honours also went Victoria's way, with Violet Santamaria, Victorian Metro Women, named the Women's Defensive Player of the tournament, recognising her outstanding defensive impact throughout the Championship.
Basketball Victoria General Manager - Pathways, Dom Linossier, said the results reflected the depth of talent and dedication across the Victorian basketball community.
“To win two national championships, having three teams medal and all teams finish in the Top 6 on home soil is a fantastic achievement and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of,” Linossier said.
“These results are a reflection of the commitment shown by our athletes, coaches, team staff and officials, along with the outstanding work of our associations, volunteers and families who support our athletes every step of the way.
“Congratulations to everyone who represented Victoria throughout the Championships.”
Basketball Victoria congratulates all Victorian athletes, coaches, team staff, referees, technical officials and volunteers who represented our state throughout the Foot Locker U16 National Championships.
Your passion, professionalism and commitment continue to strengthen Victorian basketball, and we look forward to following your journey as you continue to grow within our performance pathway.
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