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Basketball WA is pleased to announce the appointed coaches who will lead Western Australia’s Southern Cross Challenge (SCC) teams for the 2025–26 campaign.

The SCC is a key step in WA’s Performance and Pathways system, providing young athletes with the opportunity to compete nationally while preparing for future state and national representation. The tournament also serves as a critical platform for the development of WA coaches, with this year’s appointments reflecting a strong mix of proven expertise and emerging talent.

Among the group are coaches with Paralympic and Australian Boomers program experience, alongside upcoming leaders from across the state’s associations who are progressing through our pathway programs.

Pathway Preparation – Athlete & Coach Development

October 11–12, 2025 – Super Camp: Over 200 athletes from recent Metro and Country trials will attend two days of intensive training and preparation.

October 31 – November 2, 2025 – Performance Carnival: Athletes will compete at Bendat Basketball Centre. This event will form the basis of athlete selections for WA’s SCC teams.

January 16–19, 2026 – SCC Tournament (Victoria): WA has re-introduced two travelling teams per gender, per age group, ensuring a greater number of athletes, coaches, and support staff are exposed to high-level national competition. This expanded structure strengthens WA’s high-performance culture by embedding the habits and standards that prepare athletes and coaches for future national championships.

Basketball WA is also in the planning stages of its Coach Development Framework, designed to shape how coaches are supported and developed both now and across the next 3–4 years. This framework will provide clearer structure, professional standards, and long-term direction for coaching in WA, ensuring more individuals are ready to step into state and national team environments.

These announcements form part of Basketball WA’s broader Performance & Pathways Strategy, which is set to be launched publicly in the final quarter of 2025. The strategy will outline the vision and framework to guide athlete and coach development through to 2028 (and beyond).

Basketball WA congratulates all successful coaches and thanks those who contributed to the appointment process.

See the full list of coaches below:

U14 SCC – BOYS
Darren Blyth Head Coach
Tony Ronaldson Head Coach
Anthony Bertelli Travelling Assistant
Jackson Mews Travelling Assistant

U14 SCC – GIRLS
Melissa Webb Head Coach
Jessica Van Schie Head Coach
Skylar Forbes Travelling Assistant
Rochelle Piavaninni Travelling Assistant

U15 SCC – BOYS
Brendan Gaunson Head Coach
Declan Kinsella Head Coach
Boston Fitch Travelling Assistant
Rohan Stokes Travelling Assistant

U15 SCC – GIRLS
Jennifer Hess Head Coach
Jacqueline Tibbits Head Coach
Aric Forman Travelling Assistant
Carolyn Ward Travelling Assistant

SCC WHEELCHAIR
Shaun Norris Head Coach
Sarah Vinci Travelling Assistant

Media Release – SCC Announcement 2025-2026 Campaign