14
Jul
U16 Nationals
VIC-tory Lap: Metro sides sweep U16's
Vic Metro went through undefeated to claim the U16 National Championships Boys in Bendigo. Photo: Basketball Australia
Victoria Metro sweep Under-16 Nationals, claiming gold in both boys’ and girls’ championship finals.
- Every under-16 boys player competing at the 2025 National Championships
- Every under-16 girls player competing at the 2025 National Championships
- Complete guide to 2025 Under-16 Nationals in Bendigo
The Australian Under 16 Nationals Championships are in the books, with Victoria Metro taking home gold on both sides of the draw, neither team dropping a game throughout the week.
While both team's met some level of resistance in their gold medal matchups, the talent of both Victoria Metro sides ultimately proved too strong to overcome.
Here's how the Grand Finals played out on Sunday.
Girls Final – Victoria Metro def. New South Wales Metro 77–61
With Victoria Metro cruising through the pool rounds and finals matchups up to this point, it felt like we were about to watch the inevitable heading into this grand finale, but what we ended up with was a fantastic game of runs and a tight contest from start to end.
New South Wales Metro came out of the gates firing, owning the first quarter 16 to 8. Guided by the intelligent and impassioned coaching of Billy Akalo, they set the tone and the tempo and leant into their size advantage, and we saw fantastic high-low interplay between frontcourt combo Sasha Clague and Emma Lukell, who both had fantastic tournaments.
Just when it looked like an upset was on the cards, the favourites adjusted. Steadying themselves in the second quarter, the tides took a considerable turn in the third quarter, with the Victorians mixing up their defense, pressuring New South Wales ball-handlers, and starting to break the game open in transition.
Vic Metro would end up winning the third quarter 30-17, with guard Zodia Folau not only being instrumental during this game defining run, but also early, where her shot-making kept Victoria Metro afloat in the half-court when all else looked dim for those in navy blue.
She finished the final with a game-high 23 points, including five made three pointers, and demonstrated both calm and confidence running the point.
While New South Wales Metro fell short, their efforts gave them a very real chance and made for an exhilarating final.
Team Stats:
- Fast Break Points: VIC Metro 14 – NSW Metro 0
- Free Throws: VIC Metro 6/10 (60%) – NSW Metro 4/12 (33.3%)
- Turnovers: VIC Metro 9 – NSW Metro 17
- Bench Points: VIC Metro 36 – NSW Metro 9
Player Stats:
- Zodia Folau (VIC Metro): 23 pts, 5/9 3PT, 3 reb, 3 ast
- Emma Lukell (NSW Metro): 17 pts, 12 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk
- Izabella Mansory (NSW Metro): 13 pts, 4 ast
Final Results – Girls
1. Victoria Metro
2. New South Wales Metro
3. Tasmania
Boys Final – Victoria Metro def. South Australia Metro
It looked like we might’ve been set for a similar story on the boys side of the draw early, with South Australia Metro leading with a convincing opening five minutes, but it was one way traffic for the rest of the game. Victoria Metro’s size, speed and sheer firepower was too much to overcome.
There were promising flashes for the South Australians, including a 18-13 second term, but the group ultimately struggled to consistently find good looks on the offensive end.
Wing Dylan Lomman carrying the biggest load with 18 points.The Victorians kept SA to 26% from the field whilst dominating the glass 58-39. Whilst the team’s shot similarly from outside the arc, it was points in the paint where Victoria dominated 64 to 20, the slashing of Vlado Ivkovic and interior presence of Stephan Tasic, Stephen Yiah and Barry Akingbade were particularly notable, as well as the shotmaking of Ben Ware-Drakeford.
Whilst Victoria Metro emphatically capped a flawless week with quality contributors from top to bottom, it was also a big win in the scheme of the week for South Australia Metro. Finishing with 2 wins and 3 losses through pool play, including a 51 point loss to Victoria Metro, the team just sneaked into finals with little expectations.
However, two big wins against Queensland South and New South Wales Country helped them to exceed expectations.
Team Stats:
- Points in the Paint: VIC Metro 64 – SA Metro 20
- FG%: VIC Metro 48% – SA Metro 26%
- Rebounds: VIC Metro 58 – SA Metro 39
Player Stats:
- Stephan Tasic (VIC Metro): 20 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl
- Vlado Ivkovic (VIC Metro): 22 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk
- Ben Ware-Drakeford (VIC Metro): 15 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl
Final Results – Boys
1. Victoria Metro
2. South Australia Metro
3. New South Wales Country
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