Adio's 30 points leads to Victoria Metro's 35th title

• ‍Victoria Country ended a 35-year title drought by defeating Victoria Metro to win the 2026 U16 girls‍
• EVERY game at the U16 Nationals in Bendigo‍
• 2026 Under-16 tournament loaded with Australia’s best juniors

Mofeoluwa Adio scored 30 points as Victoria Metro defeated Queensland South 94-85 in Sunday’s Under-16 boys gold medal game in Bendigo.

Victoria Metro claimed its 35th Under-16 boys national championship as it overcame a seven-point quarter-time deficit before taking control through relentless pressure, inside scoring and a dominant second-half performance to retain the Robert Young Shield.

Adio produced the game’s defining individual performance, adding five steals, four rebounds and four assists while shooting 11-from-25 from the field and six-of-seven at the free throw line.

Queensland South exploded out of the blocks, scoring 30 first-quarter points and leading 30-23 at the opening break.

Metro responded immediately.

The defending champions outscored Queensland South 22-10 in the second quarter to take a 45-40 advantage into halftime, then extended the margin with a 26-16 third period.

Metro’s decisive burst turned a seven-point deficit into a 15-point lead entering the final quarter.

Queensland South refused to fade, pouring in 29 points over the final 10 minutes, but Metro had already built enough separation to close out the nine-point victory.

Adio led a powerful starting group that produced 86 of Metro’s 94 points.

Lucas Drake delivered an outstanding all-round performance with 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He shot eight-from-12 from the field and converted eight of his 10 two-point attempts.

Mobarede Akingbade also scored 19 points, adding six rebounds, two steals and a block while shooting nine-from-18.

Captain Elijah Honeyford contributed 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block, while Deng Yak added seven points.

Flynn Mackintosh made his presence felt with four points, nine rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes.

Metro’s ability to attack the basket proved decisive. The champions scored 68 points in the paint compared with Queensland South’s 24 and converted 36-from-58 two-point attempts at 62%.

Their defence was equally damaging.

Metro forced 25 turnovers, collected 16 steals and scored 32 points from Queensland South mistakes. Queensland South generated only 16 points from Metro’s 11 turnovers.

Adio’s five steals led the pressure, while Honeyford collected three and Drake, Akingbade and Mackintosh each finished with two.

Queensland South stayed within reach through exceptional three-point shooting, converting 15-from-31 from beyond the arc at 48%.

Tom Miles led Queensland South with 24 points, drilling seven-from-16 from three-point range.

JJ Cleland added 16 points and six rebounds, shooting five-from-seven from the field and six-of-nine at the free throw line.

Dusty Gurney finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Brandon Nolan recorded eight points and a game-high six assists.

Asher Watene also scored eight points with six rebounds, while captain Tavite Nasio contributed eight points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Queensland South’s bench outscored Metro’s reserves 42-8, but the champions’ starting unit controlled the paint and punished turnovers throughout the final three quarters.

Metro shot 40-from-83 from the field at 48%, compared with Queensland South’s 27-from-61 at 44%.

The victory completed another unbeaten championship run for Victoria Metro and secured consecutive Under-16 boys national titles after its 2025 triumph in Bendigo.