Gators’ Joseph Allen has been named a finalist for Big V division one men’s defensive player of the year.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
While it was a tough season for Gators basketball, there could still be more positives to come out of the campaign, with a number of Shepparton basketball figures named as finalists for Big V division one men’s and division two women’s awards.
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The Big V awards night, set to be held on September 4, has teased a number of nominees for a range of categories, and there are Shepparton names in the running to take home silverware for individual accolades on the season.
Gators skipper Joshua Kooiman has been named as a finalist for the Big V division one men’s All-Star 5, after a season of consistent shooting and playmaking.
Kooiman averaged 18.1 points, 3.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game in the 2026 season, while making the second-most threes of any player (64).
Shepparton Gators' Joshua Kooiman could be named as a division one All-Star.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Meanwhile, young star Samuel Maher has been named a finalist for Youth Player of the Year.
The developing forward earned his spot in the team in round four, and was an immediate starter averaging 9.3 points, two assists and 5.8 rebounds across the year.
Import signing Joseph Allen was vouched as the division’s Defensive Player of the Year by coach Sam Gebauer, and has taken a step closer to notching that accolade, named as one of five finalists for the award.
While Allen was an offensive star with 18.3 points per game, his defensive prowess that saw him obtain 10.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.7 steals per game on average has pushed his case for the DPOY award.
Allen led the league for blocks per game, ranked third for rebounds and ranked sixth for steals per game at season’s end.
Gebauer has also been named a finalist for coach of the year.
Despite taking on a team depleted in talent after off-season departures and retirements, Gebauer has become a respected leader in the Gators locker room.
Moulding the Gators into a team that can be competitive against the top sides, with wins against eventual finalists proving as much, Gebauer nearly orchestrated one of the great Big V relegation escapes too, highlighting his ability to do more with less, as Shepparton challenged stacked rosters competing for the championship.
In the women’s divsion two finalists, two Gators were named as potential All Star 5 members.
Gators' Yu-shan Hsieh.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Tan Fung Ma, who averaged 19.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, and Yu-shan Hshieh, who averaged 14.1 points, 2.2 assists (team-high) and scored 37 three-pointers (fifth most in division), could both feature in the All-Star selection.
