John Martin NSW Country Basketball Tournament

In 2016 Basketball New South Wales, in conjunction with the BNSW Country Committee, announced that the annual NSW Country Tournament will now be known as the “John Martin Country Tournament”.

JOHN MARTIN COUNTRY TOURNAMENT

The John Martin Country Tournament is held on the June long weekend of each year.

2023 Dates: 10th, 11th & 12th June

Venues:
Under 18 Boys – Niagara Park
Under 16 Boys – Shoalhaven
Under 14 Boys – Berkeley (Illawarra)
Under 12 Boys – Gosford/Terrigal
Under 18 & 16 Girls – Maitland
Under 14 Girls – Beaton Park (Illawarra)
Under 12 Girls – Bathurst

Age Groups:
U12, U14, U16 and U18 Boys and Girls
Premier Division, Division 2 and Division 3
U12 Division 3/Development Division Boys and Girls

FIXTURES & RESULTS

2023 WINNERS

Winner Runner-Up MVP
U18 Boys Premier Division Maitland Mustangs Central Coast Rebels Henry Wawszkowicz
U18 Boys Division 2 Queanbeyan Roadrunners Dubbo Rams Cohan Stonham
U18 Boys Division 3 Dubbo Rams Merimbula Sharks Ampris Arulrubaraj
U18 Girls Premier Division Central Coast Rebels Illawarra Hawks Sophie Prior
U18 Girls Division 2/3 Central Coast Rebels Moss Vale Magic Jasmin Piggot
U16 Boys Premier Division Illawarra Hawks Penrith panthers Aki Langford
U16 Boys Division 2 Illawarra Hawks Tumut Timberwolves Alec Forbes
U16 Boys Division 3 Merimbula Sharks Gilgandra Windmills Lochy Nolan
U16 Girls Premier Division Dubbo Rams Illawarra Hawks Millie Sutcliffe
U16 Girls Division 2 Port Macquarie Dolphins Illawarra Hawks Charlotte Cooper
U16 Girls Division 3 Central Coast Rebels Shoalhaven Olivia Smeulders
U14 Boys Premier Division Central Coast Rebels Illawarra Hawks Logam Tupea
U14 Boys Division 2 Illawarra Hawks Red Maitland Mustangs Bentin Harding
U14 Boys Division 3 Shoalhaven Tigers Queanbeyan Roadrunners Brandon Exton
U14 Girls Premier Division Queanbeyan Roadrunners Newcastle Falcons Layla Wescombe
U14 Girls Division 2 Moss Vale Magic Maitland Mustangs Sibella Watson
U14 Girls Division 3 Goulburn Bears Lithgow Lazers Annika Klem
U12 Boys Premier Division Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders Maitland Mustangs Lesli Zhang
U12 Boys Division 2 Narrandera Knights Tamworth Thunderbolts Kabe Flanagan
U12 Boys Division 3 Moss Vale Magic Canberra Gunners Gold Jace Fox
U12 Girls Premier Division Penrith Panthers Illawarra Hawks Rainne Acuna
U12 Girls Division 2 Tumut Timberwolves Queanbeyan Roadrunners Lacey Thatcher
U12 Girls Division 3 Wagga Wagga Blaze Lithgow Lazers Holly Wallace
HISTORY

John Martin Country Tournament

The John Martin NSW Country Basketball Tournament is held on the June long weekend of each year.

Under 18 Boys Premier Division | Rex Nottage – NSW, Port Macquarie, Newington College

Started as the Conference Commissioner on the Mid North Coast and was a central figure in the development of the Country CDP Program. He was also the coach of State and Country teams and director of coaching for many of the ACJBC and CDT programs.

Under 18 Boys Division 2 | Late Bruce Leonard -Life Member BNSW, BNSW Hall of Fame Member, Grafton

Former chairman for many years of the Country Committee and assisted in starting and developing the Northern Junior League. He was also the Coach of the Grafton Vikings in CBA Conference serving either as President or Secretary-manager for three decades for the association. One of the four founding fathers of the State League and influential in creating the Jacaranda Basketball Carnival, one of the biggest tournaments in NSW. Was awarded Life Membership with BNSW in 2015 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Under 18 Boys Division 3 | Late Don Pollock -Life Member BNSW. Shoalhaven, Coonabarabran, Manly

Former President of Shoalhaven, Coonabarabran and was also President of Basketball NSW for 8 years and also held a position on the Basketball NSW Board. He was BNSW’s representative on the Basketball Australia Council from 1999-2006 and was a Director on the Basketball Australia Board from 2002-2006. He was a State Junior Assistant Coach and Head Coach and was on the Country Committee for many years.

Under 18 Girls Premier Division | Leeanne Palmer – Life Member BNSW. Newcastle

A Life Member of Newcastle Basketball and BNSW. She has been involved in Domestic, State and National Basketball in various roles since the 1980’s. She was the manager for numerous NSW Country junior teams at the Australian Junior Championships, has been involved with Country Tour to Albury for more than 30 years and on the Country Committee for 30 years.

Under 18 Girls Division 2 | Leila Hines – Life Member BNSW. Shoalhaven

A former State team manager and a heavy contributor to Country girls programs. A BNSW Life Member since 1995 and a Shoalhaven Basketball Life Member.

Under 16 Boys Premier Division | Patrick Hunt – BNSW Hall of Fame Member. Tamworth

A member of the FIBA Technical Committee and Coach Development of Australian coaching programs at AIS and Centre of Excellence. A leading Australian basketball coach particularly in the field of player and coach development. He’s been a Life Member of the Australian Basketball Coaches Association since 2002, was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame as a Coach in 2016 and inducted into the BNSW Hall of Fame in 2017.

Under 16 Boys Division 2| Dennis Kibble – BNSW Hall of Fame Member, Newcastle

One of Australia’s great small players and was inducted into the BNSW Hall of Fame in 2015. Heavily involved in a coaching, manager and administrator capacity with Newcastle Basketball and was involved with the stadium management and game development. He is a life member of Newcastle Basketball, a former member of the BNSW Board and was awarded life membership with BNSW in 1991.

16 Boys Division 3 | Late Ken Clifford – BNSW Hall of Fame Member, Newcastle

He has served in many capacities in the sport of basketball over an extended period in excess of 50 years but most notable as a referee including as a former Secretary of NSW Referees Association, selector and referee coach. He was also one of the first referees to officiate in the NBL, notching up over 145 games including the very first NBL Grand Final. He received his Australian Badge in 1971 and went on to be internationally recognised, receiving his FIBA Badge in 1978. He was inducted into the BNSW Hall of Fame in 2015.

Under 16 Girls Premier Division | Lauren Jackson – BNSW Hall of Fame Legend, Albury

The most decorated Australian basketballer and one of the world’s greatest players, hailing from Albury. Through the junior pathway, she represented NSW Country at various Australian Junior Championships and was a prominent figure in the Opals team that won Olympic and World champion silver and gold medals. The only player to have their jersey retired by the Seattle Storm, Jackson played 12 seasons and 338 games in the WNBA, winning the league MVP in her third season when she led the competition for scoring. The Albury Sports Stadium was renamed in her honour and she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015. Was elevated to Legend status in 2019 in the BNSW Hall of Fame.

Under 16 Girls Division 2 | Maree Jackson – BNSW Hall of Fame Member. Albury, Shoalhaven.

A BNSW Hall of Fame member represented NSW on many occasions, both at the junior and senior level and established herself as Australia’s premier player of her era. She represented Australia in 30 matches, playing in two World Championships in 1975 and 1979 and was the first Australian woman to attend a US college on a basketball scholarship. The Australian Under 18 Women’s Championships is named in her honour. She was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in 2006.

Under 16 Girls Division 3 | Nancy Hill – Lithgow

Member of one of Australia’s early women’s teams to play in the World Championships in South America. She represented NSW in the first-ever NSW Open Women’s team in 1955 and went on to represent NSW women in 8 Australian Women’s Championships. Also, a BNSW Hall of Fame Member and is a member of the Lithgow Sporting Hall of Fame.

Under 14 Boys Premier Division | Dr Adrian Hurley – Illawarra, BNSW Hall of Fame Legend

Dr Hurley led teams to NBL championships and steered Australian sides at World and Olympic championships. His success at various levels led to his appointment as the Foundation coach of the Australian Institute of Sport in 1981, which he served until 1992. He was named NSW coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003 and is a Life Member of Basketball Australia, Illawarra Basketball and the Australian Basketball Coaches Association. He was awarded an OAM for services to basketball in 1990 and was the recipient of the 2000 Australian sports medal. Was elevated to Legend in 2017 in the BNSW Hall of Fame.

Under 14 Boys Division 2 | Bob McGugan – BNSW Hall of Fame Member, BNSW Board. Newcastle

He is a BNSW Hall of Fame Member and has been involved in basketball for over 45 years in various administrator roles. He has been a member of the Junior Committee, Coaches Committee and Country Committee within NSW. One of the biggest and more renowned Committees he joined was as the chairman of the Basketball Organising Committee at the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games. A co-founder of the U12 Country Jamboree concept and an influential figure within Country CDP programs, he has also managed various Australian junior men’s teams at World championships.

Under 14 Boys Division 3 | Merv Emms – Lithgow, Newcastle, NSW

A great development coach and coached various NSW teams across the years. Oversaw numerous plans and advised for Stadia construction throughout the NSW. He also actively coached throughout the Pacific Nations introducing the sport of basketball.

Under 14 Girls Premier Division | Late Ross Whittaker – Goulburn

A Life Member of BNSW, a coach and administrator of great renown who worked tirelessly as Secretary for the Barrengarry Conference and Goulburn Basketball Association. He developed the current BNSW Country Forums model program and a former State Junior Women’s coach.

Under 14 Girls Division 2 | Late Tom Penrose – BNSW Hall Of Fame Member, Illawarra, NSW

Was a major force in the development of NSW Country basketball, firstly in the west of the State before relocating to the Illawarra. A pioneer Coach in the distribution of coaching techniques and methods from the USA. He also was Head Coach of various NSW State teams and an assistant coach with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL for many years. He became a Life Member of the club in the 2003-04 and a BNSW HOF Member in 2017

Under 14 Girls Division 3 | Margaret Beaumont – Life Member, Moss Vale

Life Member of Moss Vale Basketball Association and has previously held the position of Association Secretary since 1998. Having joined the association at a young age she has been involved as a player, coach, referee, administrator at a club and state level. She also has been the Manager for various State Team’s, Program manager of Country teams at Pacific Coast Slam and Country Development Tournament. Also heavily involved in the Jamboree program and various other Country programs.

Under 12 Boys Premier Division | John Davidson – Dubbo, Port Macquarie

A BNSW Life Member, former President of Port Macquarie Basketball Association and former Chairman of the Country Committee. The U12 Country Jamboree was honoured with his name.

Under 12 Boys Division 2 | Richard Boyle – BNSW Life Member, Maitland

A BNSW Life Member and a former President and Life Member Maitland Basketball Association. He is the current treasurer of the Country Committee. The Country Grants program is also named in his honour which helps support the development of basketball in country areas of New South Wales.

Under 12 Boys Division 3 | Late Peter Pender – Lithgow

A Life Member of Lithgow Basketball Association and has held the position of President, Secretary, Treasurer and served on numerous committees. A great contributor to basketball in Country NSW and assisted in developing Country development programs. Also a former NSW Junior Men’s Coach.

Under 12 Boys Development Division | Paul Gooding – Albury

A former Board member of BNSW, and member of the Country Committee at various times over the years. Initial manager of the Albury Stadium and its development to a premium venue. He is heavily involved with the Border Bandits and assists in the area of junior development.

Under 12 Girls Division Girls Premier Division | Neil Gibson – Newcastle, Moss Vale

Has featured in a number of roles including Head Coach for State women’s teams, association administrator, General Manager of Country ACJBC and CDT programs. He was also a prominent NBL referee and continues as an active member of the Country Committee.

Under 12 Girls Division 2 | Late Virginia Pollock – Shoalhaven, Coonabarabran, Manly

A great promoter of women in basketball in NSW with a passion for Under 12 girls growth & development. Was an enthusiastic publicity officer for her associations.

Under 12 Girls Division 3 | Wendy Laidlaw – BNSW Hall of Fame Member, Illawarra, NSW

A senior and junior representative player who went on to play for the Opals. She oversaw the development programs in Illawarra and was coach of NSW Under 20 Women’s team. Was inducted into the BNSW Hall of Fame in 2015.

Under 12 Girls Development | Donna Van Dommele (Vado) – Ballina, NSW

Played an important role in introducing and developing basketball for girls on the North Coast. Also heavily involved in Country Development tours and programs for many years.

Change Lives: Donate to Dream Hoops 1000