The top young guns who shined at the Basketball Qld Under-16 State Championships
The Courier-Mail has named its Basketball Queensland Under-16 State Championships all-tournament teams and MVPs. SEE WHO MADE IT
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The future of basketball in Queensland is in good hands after our young guns showcased their skills at the recent State Under-16 Championships in Brisbane.
And while it was the Logan Thunder and Northside Wizards who captured the Division 1 championships, there were plenty of individuals that shined bright at the tournament.
So much so, that we decided to name our Courier-Mail All-Tournament teams as well as Most Valuable Players from the championships.
See who made it below.
IN PICTURES: Basketball Qld u16 State Championships photo gallery
BOYS STATE CHAMPS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lebron Brooks – Guard – Northside Wizards
The captain of the back-to-back state champion Northside Wizards, Lebron Brooks continues to show why he is one of the best up and coming guards in Queensland. Not only did Brooks help Northside complete a perfect season after going through SQJBC and State Championships undefeated but he shined when it mattered most. Brooks scored a game-high 31 points, including eight three-pointers in last Friday’s State Championship grand final against the Southern Districts Spartans.
Mason Honeyman – Guard – Southern Districts Spartans
The point guard running the show for the Southern Districts Spartans, Mason Honeyman led his team to an impressive tournament, where they earned several big wins, including the all important pool victory against the Cairns Marlins, to make their way to the grand final against Northside. Honeyman, the son of former Brisbane Bullet and state league legend Aaron Honeyman, averaged more than 16 points per game for the tournament.
Tyson Crees – Guard/Forward – Cairns Marlins
One of the top young prospects in the country, Tyson Crees once again dominated the State Championships for the Cairns Marlins just as he did in 2020 as a bottom-aged player. Despite falling short of making the grand final, the athletic and versatile guard/forward was the tournament’s second-leading scorer with 24.43 points per game, including 35 points against South West Metro and 34 against the Sunshine Coast Rip. Crees helped the Marlins take home a bronze medal, adding to the silver from last year.
Roman Siulepa – Forward – Southern Districts Spartans
Last week’s state championships was a break out tournament for Spartans young gun Roman Siulepa. The forward, who is known for his athleticism and incredible energy, was arguably the player of the tournament as he helped the Spartans surprise some people on their way to an appearance in the championship game and a silver medal. Siulepa was the leading scorer with 24.57 points per game, including a dominant 39 points against Toowoomba in the semi-final.
Rocco Zikarsky – Centre – Northside Wizards
The seven-foot 14-year-old who is attracting the eyes of people in the basketball community around the country. Zikarsky could be one of the most exciting prospects to come out of Queensland in years and he showed that talent at the State Championships as the Wizards took home another gold medal. The big man averaged 19.5 points per game for the tournament, including 31 against Toowoomba in the pool stages and 25 points against the Spartans in the championship game.
Sixth Man: Jolon Seaby – Forward – Toowoomba Mountaineers
The big man who led the fairytale team of the tournament as big man Jolon Seaby helped the Toowoomba Mountaineers reach their first division one state championships semi-final in years. Seaby averaged 22.57 points per game, including 35 points in the upset victory over the Gold Coast in the pool stages, as Toowoomba fell just short of winning a medal.
MVP: Roman Suilepa
GIRLS STATE CHAMPS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Vahayliah Seumanutafa – Guard – Logan Thunder
A dynamic bottom-aged guard, Vahayliah Seumanutafa was impressive all week as her Logan team captured the club’s first state junior title since 2016. Causing headaches for the opponent’s defence, the Moreton Bay College youngster was third in scoring for the tournament at 25 points per game, which including three games of 30 or more points. Seumanutafa also scored 23 points in the grand final as Logan beat Mackay to win the gold medal.
Prasayus Notoa – Guard/Forward – Logan Thunder
One half of the best backcourt in the league, Prasayus Notoa ran the show from the Thunder from the point guard position on their way to the gold. Notoa, who also has the ability to play all five positions on the court, averaged 13 points per game but her impact was felt in more ways than scoring as she created for her teammates and was a pest on the defensive end for the state champions.
Monique Bobongie – Guard – Mackay Meteorettes
She helped her Mackay Meteorettes win a state title last year and almost put the team on her back, along with teammate Claire Fraser, to almost repeat as champions. And while Mackay fell just short of another gold medal, losing to Logan in the grand final, Bobongie was dominant from the first game until the end, leading the tournament in scoring with 26.14 points per game, including an incredible 40-point effort against Gold Coast in the pool stages. She also had 24 points in the grand final as the Meteorettes almost upset the Thunder.
Claire Fraser – Forward – Mackay Meteorettes
An athletic and mobile forward, who can play every position on the court, Fraser helped form one half of the dynamic duo with teammate Monique Bobongie which proved so tough for opponents to stop. With her ability to run the lanes, finish in the paint and also shoot from the perimeter, Fraser had an impressive tournament, which was capped-off with a silver medal. She averaged more than 17 per game, including 26 in the grand final.
Teyahna Bond – Forward – Cairns Dolphins
In a tournament stacked with guards and athletic wings, Teyahna Bond is another guard who was dominant at the state championships. Despite playing limited minutes in Cairns’ second last game and missing the last, Bond was the tournament’s fifth leading scorer, averaging 19.43 points per game but put together arguably the best three-game stretch with 39 points against Rockhampton, 32 against the Gold Coast Breakers and 34 to help give the Logan Thunder their only loss for the season.
Sixth Player: Ava Usher – Guard – GC Waves
One of the best competitors in the age group, Gold Coast guard Ava Usher is an absolute terror on the defensive end of the floor, picking up her opponents full court and causing headaches but she also contributes on the offensive end. Usher averaged almost 13 points per game to help her team claim another medal this season, a bronze to add to their SQJBC silver from last month.
MVP: Monique Bobongie
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