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It’s time to celebrate the players who have stood out, stepped up and made their mark this season! 💙💛

A huge congratulations to all our award winners — your hard work, commitment and contribution have not gone unnoticed. 👏

Congratulations, Braves! 🏀✨

12 BOYS 1

Most Improved: Banjo Place

Hustle Award: Toby Chandra Thio

Teammate of the Year: Tennyson Barnett

12 BOYS 2

Most Improved: Max Young

Hustle Award: Will Campbell

Teammate of the Year: Wyatt Membery

12 BOYS 3

Most Improved: Darcy Fitt

Hustle Award: Billy Kellow

Teammate of the Year: Nixon Hutton

12 BOYS Blue

Most Improved: Jordyn Apps

Hustle Award: Archie Stagg

Teammate of the Year: Emmett Pearce

12 BOYS Yellow

Most Improved: Jackson Chapman

Hustle Award: Baxter Reid

Teammate of the Year: Alby Doran

12 GIRLS 1

Most Improved: Freya Mackenzie

Hustle Award: Ava Clarke

Teammate of the Year: Mila Hughes

12 GIRLS 2

Most Improved: Elsie Rossignuolo 

Hustle Award: Audrey James

Teammate of the Year: Maia Dang

12 GIRLS Blue

Most Improved: Hazel McDermott

Hustle Award: Alice Griffin 

Teammate of the Year: Ayla Hicks

12 GIRLS Yellow

Most Improved: Thea Keena

Hustle Award: Eve Jeffrey

Teammate of the Year: Elliette Foster

14 BOYS 1

Most Improved: Henry Macnee

Hustle Award: Kade Cochrane

Players Player: Jude Place

14 BOYS 2

Most Improved: Hudson Membery

Hustle Award: Nash McMaster

Teammate of the Year: Paddy Sherwood 

14 BOYS 3

Most Improved: Lucas McCarthy

Hustle Award: Lenny Anderson

Teammate of the Year: Duke Thurgood

14 BOYS Blue

Most Improved: Jasper Bynon

Hustle Award: Coby Horne

Teammate of the Year: Xavier Connolly

14 BOYS Yellow

Most Improved: Nate Douglas

Hustle Award: Noah Burton

Teammate of the Year: Edward Perry

14 GIRLS 1

Most Improved: Sophie Frazer

Hustle Award: Lily Mannix

Players Player: Emerson Arundell

14 GIRLS 2

Most Improved: Marlie Watson

Hustle Award: Summer Novak

Teammate of the Year: Ariah Whittle

14 GIRLS 3

Most Improved: Shylah Whittle

Hustle Award: Lucy Beasley

Teammate of the Year: Belle Ancrum

14 GIRLS Blue

Most Improved: Isabel Macumber

Hustle Award: Asher Irwin-Booth

Teammate of the Year: Leni Hughes

14 GIRLS Yellow

Most Improved: Talia Petrie

Hustle Award: Ava Daley

Teammate of the Year: Kaley Marsh

16 BOYS 1

Most Improved: Blaine Anderson

Hustle Award: Wesley Scholtes

Players Player: Arli Walker

16 BOYS 2

Most Improved: Riley Geyer

Hustle Award: George Polkinghorne

Players Player: George Polkinghorne

16 BOYS 3

Most Improved: Vander Martin

Hustle Award: Marcus Thomas

Teammate of the Year: Asha O’Brien

16 BOYS 4

Most Improved: Henry Greaves

Hustle Award: Isaac Manley

Teammate of the Year: Oscar Connolly

16 GIRLS 1

Most Improved: Ahlyssa Moefaauo

Hustle Award: Elle Gilchrist

Players Player: Mia Cox

16 GIRLS 2

Most Improved: Eliza Chapman

Hustle Award: Maddi Ryan

Players Player: Skye Anderson & Macey Nielsen

16 GIRLS 3

Most Improved: Lilly McMaster

Hustle Award: Madison Lines

Teammate of the Year: Poppy Carter

18 GIRLS 1

Most Improved: Jessica Cox

Hustle Award: Lexi Arundell

Players Player: Sophie McDermott

18 GIRLS 2

Most Improved: Elle Frederiksen

Hustle Award: Kesh Wallace

Players Player: Sophie Mahony

18 BOYS 1

Most Improved: Cayden Bynon

Hustle Award: Corben Bell

Players Player: Cash Caldis

18 BOYS 2

Most Improved: Ben Jorgensen

Hustle Award: Spencer Risicato

Teammate of the Year: Noah Pedrotti

18 BOYS 3

Most Improved: Thomas Fox

Hustle Award: Callum Mangan

Teammate of the Year: Hamish Moss

Most Improved:Awarded to the athlete who has demonstrated the greatest growth across the season through commitment, effort, and coachability. This player consistently worked to develop their skills, confidence, game understanding, and resilience. Improvement may be technical, tactical, physical, or personal growth but is clearly visible in how they train, compete, and have contributed start to finish of the season.

Hustle Award:Awarded to the athlete who consistently brings maximum effort, energy, and intensity every game and every training session. This player gives 100% in all aspects of the game, chasing loose balls, sprinting in transition, applying defensive pressure, and never giving up on a play. Their work ethic and determination set the standard for effort within our program.

Players Player/Teammate of the Year: The athlete who embodies what it means to be a great teammate. They support & encourage, contribute positively to team culture, celebrates teammates, and helps create an inclusive, uplifting environment. They are reliable, selfless, and consistently put the team first both on and off the court.

The 2026 National Championships came to a thrilling conclusion today, with six members of the Bendigo Braves community proudly representing Victoria Country in their final matches.

The highlight of the day came in the Under 16 Girls Gold Medal Match, where Mia, Molly and Mila, alongside Development Coach Ebony Doyle, helped lead Victoria Country to a memorable 60–52 victory over Victoria Metro, securing the title of National Champions.

Mia, Molly and Mila delivered an outstanding performance, combining for 42 of Victoria Country's 60 points in a dominant offensive display. 

Their composure, determination and ability to perform on the biggest stage were a testament to the hard work they have invested throughout their journey.

Earlier in the day, Vic Country Captain Blaine alongside Arli took the court in a fiercely contested final match against NSW Metro. In a heartbreaking finish, Victoria Country fell by just one point, with the Bendigo duo combining for 34 points in another outstanding performance. 

Their efforts helped cap off an impressive tournament, with the team finishing 6th overall. 

Across the week, all six Bendigo representatives showcased the values of the Bendigo Braves through their commitment, resilience and team-first attitude. 

To compete at this level of basketball in Australia is an incredible achievement, and to do so with such pride and professionalism is something our entire basketball community can celebrate.

Congratulations to Mia, Molly, Mila, Blaine, Arli and Ebony on an outstanding National Championships campaign. 

You have represented Bendigo with distinction and have made the entire Braves family incredibly proud.

Well done, Braves. 💙💛

Bendigo Basketball is thrilled to celebrate a group of Junior Braves athletes who have been selected to represent Victoria at the 2026 Under-16 National Championships.

Congratulations to..

Molly Beasley, Mila Childs, Mia Cox who have earned selection in the Victoria U16 Country Women’s team, and Blaine Anderson and Arli Walker, who have been named in the Victoria U16 Country Men’s team!

Additional recognition and congratulations goes to Isabella McEvoy and Ahlyssa Moefaauo, selected as emergencies for the U16 Country Women’s team, and Tate Kanzamar, selected as an emergency for the U16 Country Men’s team.

State team selection is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the commitment, work ethic and talent these athletes bring to the court. 

With the 2026 Under-16 National Championships taking place in Bendigo from 5–12 July at Red Energy Arena, our community will have the exciting opportunity to see these athletes compete on the national stage on home soil. 🏀

Tickets available Monday June 22nd - let's go Bendigo!