Warrandyte Basketball recently held their Senior Awards night, which saw several long standing members receive recognition for their outstanding contribution over many years to the club.

The Venom Big V awards for the 2014 season were presented to the following players:

Senior Men

Best Offensive Player – Jonathan Murphy

Best Defensive Player – Brenton Charles

Best Rebounding Player – Nathan Marsh

Best Team Player – Justin Holman

Senior Women

MVP – Amanda Hederics

Best Defensive player – Chelsea Ransom

Rising Star – Georgina Werninghaus

Youth Boys

MVP – Max Stevenson

Most Improved – Nathan De Lacy

Best Team Player – Ryan Holloway

Coaches Award – Nick Feller

Coaches Award – Callum Langmaid

Youth Girls

MVP – Margaret Kershaw

Best Defensive Player – Simone Caruana

Best Offensive Player – Maddison Taylor

Coaches Award – Amber Saunders

Coaches Award – Casey Scullin

WBA President Bruce De Lacy paid tribute to the award winners at the function.

"I am very proud to say that I have been part of the Warrandyte Basketball Association for many years now and there is one theme that seems consistent and that is that we are very fortunate to have so many great role models basketball ambassadors within our midst.

"Players like:

1.            Nathan Marsh
2.            Brenton Charles
3.            Margaret Kershaw
4.            Casey Taylor and
5.            Jack Cousens

"There are just too many to name individually, but what makes these players such great ambassadors for Warrandyte??

"When you watch them you will see that when they play:

1.      They never score without acknowledging a teammate.
2.      There is never any profanity.
3.      They treat their opponents with respect.
4.      They don’t dribble behind the back or through the legs.
5.      They never criticise a team mate.
6.      They don’t hang off the ring.
7.      They don’t get penalised with a technical foul.

"They just play basketball.

"Just like we have many great players at Warrandyte we are also very lucky to have many great people that help run the Association.

"These are not people that when unhappy with a decision use social media and say “why would you be surprised” or “don’t worry the karma train is coming”.

"These are people that if they see something is broken they say how can we fix it or what can we do to make it work better and they go about making it work better. They do it quietly and they do it without drama or fanfare they are the people that we are going to acknowledge tonight with The Warrandyte Club Awards."

De Lacy also paid tribute to the receipients of the Club Awards for 2014:

"Each year the WBA presents a number of awards that recognise members who have made significant contributions during the previous 12 months. Each award has specific criteria, and these awards are presented upon the recommendation given to the WBA committee by the WBA Club Awards Panel. The panel in 2014 is made up of two WBA Life Members - Jenni O'Brien, Ian Wood and committee member Kristy Moore."

WBA CLUB AWARD - Winner RICHARD COOKES
"Awarded to the person who best befits the award for the past 12 months. Until recently this person had been on the committee for several years but is still a regular face around the club in 2014 working hard. Always working behind the scene contributing knowledge and time – something that is very difficult to put a price on. Regularly helping out at Redback finals and was a Redback coach in the 2013 season. On Big V game day, hours before the game setting up the scorers bench, and he is always there and always available to help pack up. He correlates stats for the Big V and youth league games, as well as training, supervising and rostering the staff for this task.He has spent many hours this year, taping, reviewing and editing the Big V and Youth league games. He is the IT wiz around the club, including configuring the new computer for the Big V games.He also organised the implementation the PA system for the computer. He is the proud dad of a Rep player and rep coach.He is a good friend of the club always happy to chat to anyone."

ROSS McLELLAN MEMORIAL AWARD - Winner MOLLIE BOOTH
"Awarded in memory of former Warrandyte player, coach and referee Ross McLellan. Awarded as encouragement to a WBA coach who has displayed a willingness to learn and improve over the past 12 months, whilst also recognising their hard work and effort. Since returning to the Club to play for Season 2013 at Big V level this person has thrown herself into her team and their ambition of a title. Having suffered a season ending injury, not her first we must add, she has shown strength of character and a drive to help others reach their basketball goals. She has thrown herself into coaching and has been willing to assist the program where needed. Be it coaching a Redbacks side, a Venom rep side (perhaps even 2) or staying involved in a coaching capacity with her Big V team, she has looked to offer her support to the Club. The type of resilience she has demonstrated, the generosity with her time and her endeavor to improve her coaching makes her a worthy recipient, and more importantly a fantastic role model for our young Venom and Redbacks players."

DARYL VALENTINE MEMORIAL AWARD - Winner JACK COUSENS
"Awarded to a junior WBA member (U20 years of age) for services to the club during the past 12 months. I have known this person for half his lifetime. He has been involved with the Redbacks and Venom program for over 10 years as a player, referee and coach. He would rate as one of the quietest people in the club if not the world. Always prepared to help out when and if asked to fill in for a team or take an extra ref duty. Shows great loyalty and deals with the challenges and adversity that the game delivers from time to time with a maturity beyond his years. I remember very clearly the disappointment that he felt when not so many years ago he was dropped from the ones. He didn’t drop his bundle or seek to change clubs, he put his head down worked harder than most and then went into the No1 team the next year. He is now an important part of the leadership group within the Youth team. He comes from a strong family who have also been very loyal and active in volunteering as well as providing sponsorship to the club over many years. This player typifies the memory of Daryl Valentine and Daryl's contribution to basketball and the Warrandyte community."

TOM HAY MEMORIAL AWARD - Winner TRUDI SMITH
"Awarded in the memory of former Warrandyte coach and referee Tom Hay. Awarded to a senior WBA member (over 20 years of age) for services to the club in the past 12 months. Although only been at the club a short time her contribution around the club is honourable. Always available to help - Redback finals. From setting up, stadium supervisor, to cleaning up. Uniform shop – has used her talent as a textiles teacher to name and tag – samples and loan referee uniforms at no cost to the club. Trudi has spent hours on her feet at Venom fitting days, fitting 8 year old children through to 20 year old players. As well as fitting answering questions, offering tips to new parents, and sharing her beautiful smile. She regularly helps with the distribution of clash tops for Venom teams, the folding, bagging and processing of new stock in the uniform shop. She helps in the canteen at both stadiums, from opening at 8.00am to locking up 7.30pm. This person is a regular face at Big V & Youth league games, she has also helped out with the Big V after match functions from time to time, serving the food, to bagging the rubbish."

WBA congratulates all the award winners for 2014.