Basketball NSW is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Spalding Waratah Senior League Awards. Congratulations to all award recipients.
The Waratah League Awards are determined by an accumulation of votes from the league coaches and/or players, over the 2018 season.
Division 2 Youth Men
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Will Cranston-Lown | Bathurst Goldminers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Brayden Morris | Shoalhaven Tigers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Matthew Gray | Bathurst Goldminers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Jarryd Fernandes | Sydney Comets |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Center | Riley O’Shannessy | Shoalhaven Tigers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 Rookie Of The Year | Riley O’Shannessy | Shoalhaven Tigers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Will Cranston-Lown | Bathurst Goldminers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 MVP of the Year | Riley O’Shannessy | Shoalhaven Tigers |
| Division 2 Youth Men | 2018 Coach of the Year | Luke McGuire | Illawarra Hawks Red |
Riley O’Shannessy (Division 2 Youth Men MVP, Rookie of the Year & All Star 5)
“I feel honoured and humbled to be nominated for MVP in my first year of youth league. It‘s been a great season for the Shoalhaven Tigers and I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without my team mates around me. I’m really looking forward to finals this weekend and would like to thank my team, BNSW and Spalding for the nomination.”
Luke McGuire (Division 2 Youth Men, Coach of the Year, Illawarra Hawks Red)
“After a very rewarding year and seeing the improvement of my team it is a great privilege to be nominated for Coach of the Year. The season would not have been the same without my players attitudes and their immense commitment.”
Division 1 Youth Women
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Serena Waters – | Hornsby Spiders |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Charlie Evans | Central Coast Crusaders |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Antonia Henderson | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Emily Crampton | Newcastle Hunters |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 All Star Five Center | Danielle Pruijs | Sydney Comets |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 MVP of the Year | Antonia Henderson | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 Rookie of the Year | Taylah Thomas | Central Coast Crusaders |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Madison Hare | Hills Hornets |
| Division 1 Youth Women | 2018 Coach of the Year | Tracey Clark | Illawarra Hawks |
Antonia Henderson (Division 1 Youth Women MVP)
“It’s been a really interesting season throughout the whole time especially for our team as we’ve made finals 3 times in a row but fallen short every time so it’s exciting to do it again in such a season full of high quality players.”
Division 1 Youth Men
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Lachlan Charlton | Penrith Panthers |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Jayden Prakash | Hills Hornets |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Daniel Millburn | Maitland Mustangs |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Thomas Akamarmoi | Central Coast Crusaders |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 All Star Five Center | Luke Schroeder | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 MVP of the Year | Daniel Millburn | Maitland Mustangs |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 Rookie of the Year | Lachlan McKimm | Norths Bears |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Oliver Robilliard | Central Coast Crusaders |
| Division 1 Youth Men | 2018 Coach of the Year | Steven Sardi | Penrith Panthers |
Steven Sardi (Division 1 Youth Men Coach of the Year)
“I’m just happy to be here in the finals, there’s very few coaches who get to to this point.The last time that I got close to something like this was in 2010 and that was a triumph moment. I take every little moment that I can with gratitude. I would also like to thank the coaching staff I have around me, it is not a one man show. So thanks to everyone.”
Division 1 Women
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Shakera Reilly | Maitland Mustangs |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Kate Denyer | Shoalhaven Tigers |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Laura Bamford-Cleland | Coffs Harbour Suns |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 All Star Five Forward | Stephanie Male | Wagga Wagga |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 All Star Five Center | Amanda Bendeich | Maitland Mustangs |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 MVP of the Year | Laura Bamford-Cleland | Coffs Harbour Suns |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Jessica Orr | Maitland Mustangs |
| Division 1 Women | 2018 Coach of the Year | Connie Woods | Coffs Harbour Suns |
Connie Woods (Division 1 Women Coach of the Year)
“It is a privilege among your peers. This year has been tough for everybody because of the travelling and with that, a lot of coaches have had to go the extra mile. So to be nominated after all the hard work is an honour.”
Laura Bamford-Cleand (Division 1 Women MVP)
“I feel very humbled to be nominated as MVP for State League Women. I have worked hard all year alongside my team and coach, we are like one big family. The award would be a credit to our whole team!”
Division 1 Men
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Division 1 Men | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Luke Davies | Bankstown Bruins |
| Division 1 Men | 2018 All Star Five Guard | Reece Craigie | Sutherland Sharks |
| Division 1 Men | Men 2018 All Star Five Forward | Matur Maluach | Lithgow Lazers |
| Division 1 Men | Men 2018 All Star Five Forward | Cameron Coleman | St George Saints |
| Division 1 Men | 2018 All Star Five Center | Brett Foster | Bankstown Bruins |
| Division 1 Men | 2018 MVP of the Year | Reece Craigie | Sutherland Sharks |
| Division 1 Men | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Paul Labua | Bankstown Bruins |
| Division 1 Men | 2018 Coach of the Year | Simon Gleeson | Sutherland Sharks |
Reece Craigie (Division 1 Men MVP)
“I am very honoured to be nominated as league MVP. As soon as preseason opened we knew we had a selfless group who understood our roles and enjoyed working hard. Coming into finals weekend we are excited, it’s the first time we will field our full strength team, it’s a credit to our groups resilience and growth to make the final four undermanned – I couldn’t have received this nomination without them.”
Championship Women
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Championship Women | 2018 MVP of the Year | Chelsie Schweers | Sutherland Sharks |
| Championship Women | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Kate Seebohm | Norths Bears |
| Championship Women | 2018 Youth Player of the Year | Madeleine Norris | Sutherland Sharks |
| Championship Women | 2018 Coach of the Year | Thomas Garlepp | Norths Bears |
Chelsie Schweers (Champ Women MVP)
“It’s exciting and I’m honoured to be nominated for the MVP award. Right now we’re just focused on bringing home the championship one game at a time.”
Championship Men
| Division | Award | Name | Association |
| Championship Men | 2018 MVP of the Year | Austin Thornton | Newcastle Hunters |
| Championship Men | 2018 Defensive Player of the Year | Joshua Morgan | Newcastle Hunters |
| Championship Men | 2018 Youth Player of the Year | Jacob Foy | Newcastle Hunters |
| Championship Men | 2018 Coach of the Year | Benjamin Knight | Norths Bears |
Austin Thornton (Champ Men MVP)
“It’s been a great season, a lot of fun, Newcastle Basketball has accepted me and brought me into their home. We positioned ourselves really well to be in the first place at the end of regular season and the possibility of having this award is really cool.”
Congratulations:
Congratulations to all the winners once again and don’t forget there is still time to purchase your tickets to the finals weekend this weekend at https://www.hillshornets.com.au/finals18