The Warrnambool mentor will oversee the selection and preparation of players to contest the 2010 Australian under 16 national championships at Logan, Queensland, from July 3 to 10.

The Basketball Victoria Country Council (BVCC) yesterday announced coaching appointments for the Victoria Country under 16 representative teams.

BVCC manager David Huxtable named Nat Weston, of Foster, and Lucas Allen, of Shepparton, as Gall's assistants.

Huxtable said Gall had extensive coaching experience at senior and junior level.

"Tony has been a head coach of Warrnambool teams in the Big V league and has coached the Warrnambool men's and women's teams to ABA (Australian Basketball Association) Confer?ence finals in 2000 and 2001," he said.

"Tony will be able to utilise his experience at the 2009 national championships in Logan in 2010."

Huxtable said Weston was an experienced coach from the Foster Basketball Association who had been an assistant coach at the same level in 2008.

''Lucas is a young coach from the Shepparton Basketball Association who has been involved in various Vic Country programs from Aussie Hoops, under 12 jamborees to skills days and as a coach at the Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup," he said.

Stepping up to the position of head coach of the Victorian Country under 16 boys' team is Wayne Royal, from the Traralgon Basketball Association, with Gary Driver, of Shepparton, as his assistant.

Huxtable said he was particularly pleased with the calibre of state team coaches.

"Coaches who are involved in the state program taking that experience back to their local associations can only be a good thing for country basketball." he said.

The player selection process will begin early next year.