It was another highly successful Basketball Victoria annual awards dinner for Knox Basketball Incorporated this past Thursday evening with current Knox Ford Raiders SEABL Men’s head coach Graham Longstaff taking out the Coach of the Year award and the VBRA (Victorian Basketball Referees Association) Knox Branch earning their fifth consecutive Referees Program of the Year award.

In addition, two media award nominations from KBI were awarded to Eugene Hyland for Best Regional Photograph (Knox Leader) and Adrian Bernecich (Knox Leader) for Best Regional Story. The night also saw six servants of KBI recognised for their long service to the association; Margaret Keen and Pat Vaughan received silver service awards for 25 years service whilst Wayne Sewell, Bryan Cook, Peter Asquith and Tracy Tuennisen all received bronze service awards for 15 years service.

Knox Basketball Chief Executive, Officer Simon Brookhouse spoke on the association’s achievements, “It was a great night for KBI and those involved with winning the awards. Awards like these are a great recognition of the time and effort individuals and groups of individuals put in at our association. I’d like to make special mention to our refs association who have won their fifth straight award and Graham for his outstanding achievement being named coach of the year. It was also extremely important to recognise the six individuals who received long service awards. Without the contributions of these individuals KBI would not be in the position it currently is.

For Longstaff, the Coach of the Year award was a well earned recognition of his achievements accomplished in 2009 and the almost 20 year tenure he has served at the club in a variety of coaching roles. Longstaff led the Raiders SEABL Men’s team to the promise land in 2009 as they took out the SEABL Championship in emphatic fashion. Adding to Longstaff’s stellar year was his guidance as ‘scouting coach’ for the Under 14 National Championship winning Junior Raiders boy’s team.

Humble and gratuitous in his acceptance speech, Longstaff stated, “I’m very proud to accept this award and I want to make special mention of some of the coaches that coached me as a player who have had a big influence on my own coaching career being Lindsay Gaze, Ken Watson, Jack Nicey, Owen Hughan and in particular Bruce Palmer who has had the biggest influence on my career and really taught me how to think about the game.”

“This award is really a team award which ultimately belongs to the club and I thank the club for giving me a second chance after coaching the SEABL Men in 1996 and 1997.”

Longstaff added, “I’ve been very fortunate to coach and have been involved with a number of great players and personalities. As far as imports go, Wayne Howell, Derrick Leak, Matt Rueter, CJ Massingale and Lester Strong are all class acts as people and very professional on the court. Then there are the Glenn Siegle’s, Cam Rigby’s and Mick Hill’s with the experience and who are good for the younger player’s development.”

The Best Referees Program again went to the VBRA Knox Branch who have now owned the award for half a decade. The Knox referees association have taken great pride in improving themselves and introduced a number of pilot programs which other associations have followed suit.

VBRA Knox Branch President, Sean Gottliebsen was elated, “It is with great pleasure I accept this award on behalf of the VBRA Knox Branch who have worked tirelessly year in and year out. If not for the dedication of KBI, the VBRA Knox Committee, Supervisors, Referee Coaches and Referees of this branch, then the award would undoubtedly be beyond our reach. We pride ourselves on our perception within the greater basketball community in Knox and indeed the state, this award is recognition for the continued hard work that all put in on a day to day basis.”