McKinnon Cougars celebrate the 2025/26 VJBL season
The 2025/26 Victorian Junior Basketball League season has concluded following another memorable year for the McKinnon Cougars.
McKinnon was represented by 47 teams across the Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 age groups, with players competing from Regional League through to Victorian Championship level.
The Under 12.1 Boys enjoyed an outstanding campaign at the National Junior Classic, returning home with the silver medal after competing against some of the leading junior teams in Australia. The team also progressed to the VC Championship Preliminary Final during the VJBL season.
The Under 16.1 Boys finished their season as VC Reserve champions, defeating Wyndham 70–57 in the Grand Final.
The Under 18.1 Girls also claimed a VC Reserve championship, defeating Waverley 62–50 in their Grand Final.
Throughout the VJBL season, eight McKinnon teams reached their respective Grand Finals, with three crowned champions. Many more progressed through the finals and represented the Cougars proudly across every level of competition.
The achievements of every team were celebrated at the 2026 McKinnon Cougars Awards Night, where each team’s Cougar of the Year and High Performer of the Year were recognised.
The Cougar of the Year awards celebrated players who consistently represented the values of the McKinnon Cougars, while the High Performer of the Year awards recognised outstanding performance and contribution on the court.
McKinnon Basketball congratulates every player and award recipient on their achievements throughout the 2025/26 VJBL season.
The MBA also thanks every coach, assistant coach, team manager, parent, volunteer and supporter for their contribution to another successful Cougars season.
VJBL 2025/26 Season
• Under 12.1 Boys: National Junior Classic silver medallists and VC Championship Preliminary Finalists
• Under 12.2 Boys: Finished 8th in VJL1
• Under 12.3 Boys: VJL3 Grand Finalists, defeated by Dandenong 39–27
• Under 12.4 Boys: VJL5 Elimination Finalists
• Under 12.5 Boys: Regional League 1 Semi Finalists
• Under 12.6 Boys: Regional League 2 Elimination Finalists
• Under 12.7 Boys: Regional League 2 Preliminary Finalists
• Under 12.8 Boys: Finished 9th in Regional League 2
• Under 12.1 Girls: VC Reserve Preliminary Finalists, defeated by Camberwell 48–47
• Under 12.2 Girls: Finished 8th in VJL2
• Under 12.3 Girls: Finished 6th in VJL2
• Under 12.4 Girls: Finished 7th in VJL4
• Under 12.5 Girls: VJL5 Preliminary Finalists
• Under 12.6 Girls: Regional League 1 Elimination Finalists
• Under 12.7 Girls: Finished 10th in Regional League 1
• Under 14.1 Boys: VJL2 Semi Finalists
• Under 14.2 Boys: VJL3 Elimination Finalists
• Under 14.3 Boys: VJL6 Semi Finalists, defeated by Chelsea 52–51
• Under 14.4 Boys: Finished 6th in VJL6
• Under 14.5 Boys: Finished 7th in VJL8
• Under 14.6 Boys: Regional League 1 Grand Finalists, defeated by Sandringham 40–38
• Under 14.7 Boys: Finished 8th in Regional League 2
• Under 14.1 Girls: Finished 8th in VJL1
• Under 14.2 Girls: Finished 10th in VJL3
• Under 14.3 Girls: Finished 10th in VJL4
• Under 14.4 Girls: Finished 9th in VJL6
• Under 14.5 Girls: Finished 9th in VJL7
• Under 14.6 Girls: Finished 6th in VJL8
• Under 14.7 Girls: Regional League 1 Semi Finalists
• Under 16.1 Boys: VC Reserve champions, defeating Wyndham 70–57
• Under 16.2 Boys: Finished 7th in VJL4
• Under 16.3 Boys: Finished 7th in VJL5
• Under 16.4 Boys: VJL6 Semi Finalists
• Under 16.5 Boys: VJL9 Semi Finalists, defeated by Sherbrooke 39–37
• Under 16.1 Girls: VC Reserve Elimination Finalists
• Under 16.2 Girls: Finished 6th in VJL4
• Under 16.3 Girls: VJL5 Grand Finalists, defeated by Pakenham 42–33
• Under 16.4 Girls: Finished 7th in VJL6
• Under 16.5 Girls: Finished 6th in VJL7
• Under 18.1 Boys: VJL1 Grand Finalists, defeated by Knox 63–51
• Under 18.2 Boys: Finished 10th in VJL3
• Under 18.3 Boys: Finished 10th in VJL6
• Under 18.1 Girls: VC Reserve champions, defeating Waverley 62–50
• Under 18.2 Girls: VJL2 champions, defeating Coburg 52–33
• Under 18.3 Girls: VJL6 Grand Finalists, defeated by Waverley 47–30
• Under 20.1 Boys: Competed in the VC Reserve Finals competition
• Under 20.1 Girls: Finished 11th in VC Reserve