Bartlett was rewarded with the Mermaids most valuable player award after a strong first season in the Big V women's championship

The 17-year-old, who shot 109 points from 18 games, said she didn't expect to win.

"It was a surprise, it was very exciting," she said.

The youngster nearly doubled her minutes this year after 27 games with the division one team last season.

"It was a big step up from division one to championship," she said.

"We lost a few experienced players so it was good to get minutes.

"I just think I had more of a role of a leader this year compared to last year."

The Year 11 Terang College student said she noticed the difference between the two divisions.

"It was a good experience (stepping up), it helps develop your game quite a lot, shows you the quality of basketball there can be," she said.

"There were definitely better players and the team's altogether were much better also."

Bartlett, who lives at Garvoc, finished with a season-high 21 points against the Southern Peninsula Sharks in round 15.

"That was one of the games that I definitely had to step up as a leader," she said.

The young gun, who prefers to play point guard, said the team was missing a number of experience players for that game.

Meanwhile, the Mermaids Coaches Award went to Lily Killey who also gained plenty of minutes during her 18 appearances this season.

Bartlett was full of praise for her teammate.

"She's also a very deserving winner, she's a really good player," she said.

She said Killey would be missed next season when she moves away for university.

Young gun Juina Lual took out the Mermaids Rising Star of the Year award after making her senior debut in the season opener.

Bartlett said Lual was developing well.

"She's a great player, very funny and good to be around," she said.

Abbey Sutherland, who moved to United States during the season, was named the Mermaids Defensive Player of the Year.

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American import Johnson-Blount averaged 33 points from his 17 games in the Big V division one men's competition.

Experienced teammate Alex Gynes claimed the Seahawks Defensive Player of the Year while Dailin Toone received the coaches award.

Michael Barnes took out the Rising Star Award.

Helen and Jenna Osborne were joint recipients of the Club Person of the Year award.

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