GPS Basketball Players of the Week following round 8 action
The best GPS First V basketball performers from round 8 revealed here including a lefty from Gregory Terrace who couldn’t miss, a game-winning Churchie player and an underrated BBC baller.
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Gregory Terrace’s Corey Laffan was the best player featured in this week’s GPS Basketball Players of the Week after a lights-out showing against BBC at BBC.
Terrace won the game 87-75 and from the first whistle to the last whistle, the left-handed Laffan could not miss.
From the corner, he swished it. From in front, it was too easy. From anywhere, Laffan was seeing the bucket 10 times larger.
You could count on one hand how many shots he missed and once the ball left his hand, almost everyone in the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex knew it was going down.
At Ipswich Grammar, there were similar heroics from Churchie trio Jake Miles-Wrency, Oskar Olechnowicz and Caleb Cronn who each had their moment in the final minute to turn a six-point-deficit into a three-point-win over their rivals.
Up on the range, Toowoomba Grammar played their best game of the year to score a 114-66 victory over Nudgee College.
And at Brisbane State High, the home side pipped Brisbane Grammar 96-93.
GAME OF THE ROUND
CHURCHIE V IPSWICH GRAMMAR
Churchie got off to a hot start and built a commanding 25-15 point lead after the first quarter and kept their foot on the gas through to the third quarter.
Up 18 points, the visitors dropped their energy and in turn home side Ipswich caught fire.
Shooting an impressive 38% from deep, Jason Ralph’s boys turned that deficit to lead by double digits late in the fourth.
With just one minute remaining down six, Churchie’s Jake Miles-Wrency threw on his cape and stepped up, making a crucial three-point-play, securing two crucial steals, and delivering an assist to teammate Caleb Cronn for an and-one play that tied the scores.
After a crucial stop on defence, Oskar Olechnowicz then made a huge bucket deep in the corner which secured a thrilling 92-89 victory.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Rahul Captain (Toowoomba Grammar)
Captain shot the lights out again to finish with 22 points including four made threes.
A laser.
Theo Hess (Toowoomba Grammar)
16 points in 19 minutes for the 204cm giant. His cameo featured five threes and six rebounds.
Sam Geu (Toowoomba Grammar)
Geu had 19 points on 12 shots in an outing as efficient as it gets.
Keahn Tuakura (Toowoomba Grammar)
17 points and 13 rebounds in 16 minutes all while being under the weather. How about that.
Charlie Winks (BBC)
Winks splashed a three or two, made a couple of tough buckets and was mistake free.
His defence was also strong and coach Mike just had to have him in crunch time after Winks and Co cut an overwhelming deficit to six.
Emerson Juhasz (BBC)
The strongly built Juhasz was a one-man army in the first quarter, putting BBC on his back and keeping them close.
After an array of threes, and-one’s and post moves saw Juhasz get into the groove, the team followed suit and made Terrace work hard for their points.
Lachlan Scroggie (BBC)
The BBC skipper was cool under full court pressure from Hunter and Phoenix Trego and was a calming leader.
He didn’t score a heap but his trusty handles and selfless facilitating got the likes of Charlie Hinson going.
Corey Laffan (Terrace)
Laffan had an insane showing. He was lights out. From in front, from the corner and attacking the rim, the curly haired Laffan just couldn’t miss.
In the fourth quarter, after making BBC wish they had an answer all contest, he made a slashing cut to the rim and finished an impressive three-point-play.
He was a man possessed.
Hunter Trego (Terrace)
Lefty Trego was immense start to finish. Not just with his handles, creation for others and jump shooting but also his man-defence.
On one occasion, his fierce pressure on the inbounds passed forced a turnover which was scooped up by his teammate and layed up and in.
His brother Phoenix played well despite shooting less than usual. This time his rebounding and defence helped Terrace put BBC away.
Kian San Jose (Brisbane State High)
Jose was a pest defensively which limited the potency of Lebron Brooks and Lachlan Curtin.
On offence he got it going from behind the arc and used the backboard with some strong finishes.
Max Balthes (Brisbane Grammar)
Balthes was at his best shooting the ball efficiently and playing good defence.
He closed out his fourth season of First V hoops in fine fashion.
Rohan Barlow (Brisbane Grammar)
Like Balthes, Barlow will be back next season which should excite Brisbane Grammar supporters.
He came up big on the boards on Saturday and will be back in the gym in less than two weeks to work on his craft and begin preparations for season 2024.
Lebron Brooks (Brisbane Grammar)
The Year 11 was solid as he always is. A walking bucket, Brooks closed out his 2023 campaign strongly.
George Mercer (Brisbane Grammar)
Mercer provided a punch off the bench when adding a couple buckets and some astute defence to repel BSHS.
Lachlan Curtin (Brisbane Grammar)
He guarded Roman Siulepa and did a mighty job. Outside of guarding one of the competition’s toughest, Curtin rebounded his heart out and almost energised his side to their third win of the season.
Oskar Olechnowicz (Churchie)
Olechnowicz led the way with an impressive 24 points and 11 rebounds.
A highlight of his came deep into the fourth quarter when he made a clutch bucket to seal the game.
Jake Miles-Wrency also played a pivotal role with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four steals.
Caleb Cronn (Churchie)
Cronn showed he could do it effortlessly, contributing 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Kurt Siwek (Churchie)
Siwek quietly got into his work and finished with an impressive double double including 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Peja Ahwang (Ipswich Grammar)
Ahwang had himself a game putting up 26 points on just under 50 per cent from the field.
He was HOT.
Joel Mynott (Ipswich Grammar)
Mynott shot efficiently on his way to 19 points. Of his six three point attempts, he knocked down three.
Harrison McAuliffe (Ipswich Grammar)
Three assists, three steals, 14 rebounds and 16 points. That was the bouncy McAuliffe’s stat line on Saturday when Ipswich Grammar were ever so close to securing their first win.
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