The 2025 Foot Locker Under-16 National Championships wrapped up in Bendigo with a resounding display of Victorian basketball dominance. With four Victorian teams in the mix -Victoria Metro Men and Women, and Victoria Country Men and Women, throughout the week it was clear that the four Victorian teams were strong and would be competitive come the weekend. The host state delivered a clean sweep, claiming both gold medals on the final day of competition, with the Metro Women and Metro Men crowned 2025 Champions. The Country Men's team showcased what they can do to finish in 5th place, with the Country Women finishing the tournament strong in 6th place.
Victoria Metro Women: Relentless and Refined
Victoria Metro Women capped off an undefeated campaign with a 77 - 61 victory over NSW Metro in the Grand Final. Their defensive intensity and rebounding prowess proved decisive but it was a 30-point third quarter from the Victorians and a masterclass in three-point shooting from Captain Zodia Folau that changed the trajectory of the game.
Key Contributors:
- Zodia Folau: Orchestrated the offense and led in the final with 23 points (15 in quick succession from five 3-pointers in the third quarter), adding 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Her tournament average of 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3 assists made her a consistent threat and leader on the court.
- Ceejay Caddy: Contributed an important 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in the final, averaging 10.6 points across the week.
- Indy Springett: Provided spark off the bench with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists dominating inside the paint and anchoring the team’s interior defence.
Victoria Metro Women dominated the paint with 36 rebounds and forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 19 points. Their bench depth was unmatched, contributing 36 points in the final.
(Victoria Metro U16 Men’s Championship Team. Credit: JR Smith Photography)
Victoria Metro Men: Fast, Fierce, and Focused
Victoria Metro Men delivered a commanding performance in the boys’ Grand Final, defeating South Australia Metro 97 - 63 to make it their 4th gold medal in a row. Their full-court pressure and offensive execution set the tone early, building a 14-point lead by quarter time.
Key Contributors:
- Vlado Ivkovic: Led all scorers with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across the week.
- Stevan Tasic: Dominated the paint with 20 points, 7 rebounds and a further 3 assists, contributing to Victoria’s 58 total rebounds.
- Benjamin Ware-Drakeford: Energized the team with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. A consistent tournament averaging 13 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Victoria Metro Men shot 48% from the field, racking up 26 points off turnovers and 15 second-chance points. Inside the Victorians were in control, delivering recording 64 points from the paint and a true team effort racking up 20 assists for the game.
(Victoria Metro U16 Men’s Championship Team. Credit: JR Smith Photography)
Victoria Country Men: Grit and Growth
Victoria Country Men finished 5th overall, closing out the tournament with a strong win over Queensland South. Their campaign was marked by resilience and standout individual efforts.
Key Contributors:
- Olliver Muir: Put together a strong final performance with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist.
- Lenny Maxwell: Posted 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the final to complete a consistent tournament.
- Edward Brown: Contributed numbers across the board with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
- Spencer Wright: Added 12 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist, bringing energy and hustle in key moments.
Their ability to dominate the paint and rebound effectively kept them competitive throughout the week, and their fifth-place finish reflects a strong foundation for future success.
(Image: Lenny Maxwell. Credit: Ethan Cunningham Photography)
Victoria Country Women: Heart and Hustle
With eight bottom age athletes in the team Victoria Country Women gave their all to finish 6th, battling through a tough draw and showing flashes of brilliance.
Key Contributors:
- Jade Chow: Provided scoring punch with a dominant 21 points and 3 rebounds, leading all scorers in the final.
- Jada Hill: Posted a strong performance in the final with 11 points, dominated the boards with 16 rebounds and 5 assists.
- Molly Beasley: Averaged 9.1 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game, consistently delivering for her team throughout the tournament.
Though they fell just short in the final game against Tasmania, their effort and improvement were evident, and their campaign laid the groundwork for a bright future ahead.
(Shooting: Molly Beasley. Credit: Ethan Cunningham Photography)
Victorian Technical Officials:
The 2025 Foot Locker Under 16 National Championships also featured several Victorian technical officials in action. A great opportunity aspiring officials to perform at the national level, the tournament certainly spotlighted future talent from Victoria, with the following individuals selected for a number of the medal games on the final day.
- Gold Medal Men: Umpire 1 Riley Norton, Statisticians Saxon Gibbon and Amee Thorn.
- Gold Medal Women: Scoretable Luka Phillips, Alysce MacLaren, Lachlan Hunter and statistician Aaron Barry.
- Bronze Medal Women: Crew Chief Jordan Minter, Umpire 2 Maty Morrissey. Scoretable Janie Mayne and Catherine Moller, and Statistician Mithali Rajagopalan.
- Bronze Medal Men: Scoretable Nicole Moller, Scott Samson and Michelle Collins.
(Left: Riley Norton. Credit: JR Smith Photography)
Accelerated Women’s Coaching Program: The Future is Bright
Year 2 of the Accelerated Women’s Coaching Program has concluded with a 3-day experience at the 2025 Footlocker U16 National Junior Championships. The program was designed by Rob Coulter, Basketball Victoria’s Coach Education Manager and Kat Gourley, Basketball Victoria’s Women and Girls Participation Manager to help each coach involved come away stronger, more informed, and empowered to shape the next generation of athletes. From online sessions to scenario work, workshops and finally a national tournament experience, every moment was packed with value.
A huge thank you to all the women involved, and the passion, enthusiasm and care they brought to the program. Countless development opportunities were had - participants learnt practical coaching skills and were encouraged to build their own coaching network, which will only help them and their players in the future.
The program was further elevated by the calibre of presenters and contributors this year. Thank you to Peter Lonergan, Carol Fox and Dr Julia Walsh who generously gave their time, experience, and wisdom, and to High Performance Head Coach – Country Women Zoe Carr, who’s experience and insight as a woman in a high-performance coaching role has been invaluable to the program.
This is just a stepping stone for all the coaches involved, but a significant and important initiative that is shaping the future of women’s coaching in Victoria and beyond.
Thank you to all involved, we look forward to seeing these coaches progress in the future!
(2025 Accelerated Women’s Coaching Program Participants. Credit: Basketball Victoria)
Bendigo Delivers a Championship Atmosphere
Red Energy Arena was buzzing all week, with strong crowds and passionate support from the local community.
Victoria Metro didn’t just win—they set the standard. With elite performances, tactical discipline, and team-first mentality, they’ve etched their names into the national spotlight. Congratulations to all of the athletes, coaches, officials, support staff, family and friends who represented Victoria across the entire week, showcasing the depth of this basketball community and the talent that is coming through.
(2025 Foot Locker Under-16 National Champions – Victoria Metro Women and Victoria Metro Men. Credit: JR Smith Photography)
For more information about our Performance Pathways Program please click the link below.
Re-live the action and check out some of the special moments from the tournament via our photo gallery below.
