2025 Basketball Australia U16 National Championships: Day 1
The opening day of the Basketball Australia U16 National Championships kicked off in style on Saturday, with both games providing plenty of early highlights. Watch the REPLAYS here.
Basketball Live Stream
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball Live Stream. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While only two games may have been on offer, they certainly didn’t dissapoint on the opening day of the 2025 Basketball Australia U16 National Championships on Saturday.
The standalone boys and girls matches provided plenty of highlights from Red Energy Arena in Bendigo, with both games up for grabs late in the contest.
Eventually, it was Victoria Country that won both matchups, with the girls knocking off South Australia Metro and the boys doing enough to hold off a brave South Australia Country outfit.
Catch the full boys replay above, the girls below and what we learned from both.
REPLAYS
Victoria Country v South Australia Metro (G)
WHAT WE LEARNED
MAGNIFICENT MIA SET FOR BIG IMPACT
Despite breaking away late in their clash against South Australia Metro, Victoria Country were well and truly made to earn the victory.
And one player that led that charge for the host state was Mia King.
The young star was Victoria’s most damaging and dynamic player throughout the 73-56 victory, providing plenty on the offensive end.
Finishing with a game-high 19 points, King also notched up seven rebounds, five steals and two assists and went an impressive 4-4 from the free-throw line.
While she was the player of the match, there’s no doubt she’ll be keen to tidy up her work beyond the arc - 25 per cent (1-4) - while she also finished with four personal fouls.
South Australia Metro’s Lara Gribben was also an impressive performer in defeat, finishing with 18 points, 15 rebounds, six steals and three assists.
VICTORIA COUNTRY SET TO PRESENT A CHALLENGE TO DEFENDING CHAMPS
While some may think that the boys title is almost certain to once again end up with defending champions Victoria Metro, their intrastate rivals may have something to say about that.
The boys from Victoria Country looked ultra-impressive in their 68-63 win over a spirited South Australia Country outfit, made to earn their victory in the final minutes of the game.
After a strong third-quarter fightback, the eventual victors trailed by just one point at the final break with that lead stretching back out to four points midway through the final term.
Hendrix Van den Ham then gave Victoria the lead after being fouled on a lay-up, one that they wouldn’t let slip despite some frantic final minutes.
They held off a strong late challenge from South Australia well, proving this Victoria Country side has the grit and determination to challenge their ‘big brother’ for this year’s crown.
PREVIEW
The start of one of the most anticipated national tournaments of the year begins on Saturday, with two blockbuster games kicking off all the action at the 2025 Basketball Australia U16 National Championships.
Gracing the courts of Red Energy Arena in Bendigo for the second straight year, the nine-day tournament will begin with stand-alone boys and girls matches before things well and truly ramp up from Sunday.
The Saturday twin billing will see Victoria Country v South Australia Metro (girls) and Victoria Country v South Australia Country (boys) do battle, with both games streamed live and exclusive on KommunityTV from 3pm.
Catch all the action in the player above and see the full tournament schedule below.
KommunityTV will then continue to bring you all the action across the course of the tournament, with three courts of high octane and thrilling junior basketball on offer every day.
Both boys sides will be hoping to gain some early momentum in a bid to present a strong challenge to three-time defending champions Victoria Metro, who didn’t drop a game on the way to championship glory last year.
With the girls competition appearing to be more of an open race, both Victoria Country and South Australia Metro will also be intent on chalking up an early win ahead of follow-up games on Sunday against Western Australia Country and New South Wales Country, respectively.
Originally published as 2025 Basketball Australia U16 National Championships: Day 1
Replays: All the BSA District League finals winners
The Basketball SA District League finals have produced some surprising outcomes with a couple of the big seeds rocked. Relive all the qualifying and elimination finals in full REPLAYS.
Replays: Basketball Australia U16 National Champs, Grand Finals
They came in as the big deal and now Victoria Metro will be leaving as the real deal after the girls and boys under-16 national championships playoffs. Check out all the REPLAYS.
Watch replays: Basketball Australia U16 National Champs, Day 8
Four teams kept their U16 National Championships campaigns alive on Saturday with vastly different results across every semi-final clash. Watch all the Day 8 REPLAYS here.
Replays: Basketball Australia Under-16 National Champs, Day 7
SA Metro’s boys team shocked a tournament heavyweight while two favourites in the girls’ Basketball Australia Under-16 National Championships showed why they must be feared - for different reasons. Watch replays from Day 7 here.
Watch replays: Basketball Australia U16 Nationals, Day 6
Two powerhouse states have kept a clean record through the pool stages, while one southern side didn’t miss out on its final shot to make the play-offs. Watch the REPLAYS from Day 6.
Replays: Basketball Australia U16 Nationals, Day 5
Four undefeated teams entered the fray on Day 5, see who took the spoils to further install belief that they can go deep at the U16 national championships this week. Watch all 13 REPLAYS.