GPS Basketball Players of the Week revealed as Churchie v TSS clash looms
The biggest game of the GPS basketball season looms with Churchie welcoming an undefeated TSS in a fine run of form. But first, see the round 5 Players of the Week here.
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The Southport School outdid themselves in round 5 of the GPS basketball season when they beat BBC, who last week beat heavyweights Towoomba Grammar, 116-63.
TSS are now five-from-five, in smoking-hot form coming off that 53-point victory, and will face Churchie this weekend in a match that can decide the premiership.
Toowoomba Grammar overcame Churchie 90-83 at the weekend but if Churchie win this their premiership hopes will remain alive.
After giving up a double-digit lead, the Churchie boys will be eager to bounce back but against a team where an Australian representative (Indy Cotton) is the third or even fourth option, it is never going to be easy.
In other matches, Ipswich Grammar were ahead in comfortably in the first and second quarter before a BSHS comeback saw them turn a nine point first half deficit into a 127-97 win.
And at Brisbane Grammar, the home side enjoyed capturing their first win of the season with a rollicking 89-67 victory over Nudgee College.
It was a well-deserved result for a team that had been brewing for quite some time.
So which players stood out? See below and keep an eye out for another story later in the week highlighting the home grown talents of GPS basketball.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Charlie Hinson (BBC)
Hinson was a big-time-player against Toowoomba Grammar in round 4 and again in round 5 when he took it to Southport. He got to the rim and made some big shots but BBC didn't go to him enough.
A little guy, Hinson got to the rack and made some big shots.
Ben Tweedy (TSS)
Tweedy was elite again, dropping another 30-bomb on his team’s way to a dominant victory.
Jackson McCabe (TSS)
The TSS big man was impressive on both sides of the floor. A highlight of his included one of the biggest dunks the GPS has ever seen.
Jaylen Pitman (TSS)
Pitman did his thing again with plucky defence, quick transition buckets and expert finishing around the rim.
Ash McGrath (TSS)
The state representative enjoyed more minutes and he was efficient during his time on the court.
A youngster like Indy Cotton, McGrath got out in transition and piled on more pain onto BBC.
Rahul Captain (Toowoomba Grammar)
Captain top scored for Toowoomba, playing a more all-round game this time instead of being the lights out three-point-specialist we are used to.
Early in the game shots weren’t falling but boy did he find a way to make an impact by threatening Churchie with his off-ball-cuts.
Indeed Churchie plays some stifling zone defence but Captain’s ability to make strong cuts at the right time kept his team in the game.
Isaac Barac (Toowoomba Grammar)
Barac was again a huge boost off the bench for Toowoomba.
For the third game in a row he shot at a high clip and defended exceptionally well.
Centre Samuel Geu also had a solid game with strong defence.
Oskar Olechnowicz (Churchie)
Olechnowicz had 25 points at the half and every shot looked sweet out of the hands.
He was Churchie’s prime mover and it took some telling defence from Toowoomba to quiet him down in the second half.
Whether it was shooting threes or playing bully-ball driving down hill, the physical Olechnowicz had his way.
He finished with 37 points and seven rebounds.
Ed Storen (Churchie)
The First XI cricketer threw in a cool 15 points and five rebounds and was a big reason why Churchie were for the majority of the game, in control with a double-digit lead.
Lachlan Curtin (Brisbane Grammar)
Curtin enjoyed spearheading this deserving Grammar team to victory with 26 points, nine rebounds, six steals and three assists.
On his home court, Curtin played his best game of the year and will be looking to stay hot when his team play their final home game of 2023 against the Jason Ralph coached Ipswich Grammar.
Lebron Brooks (Brisbane Grammar)
Brooks was the man without being the man if that makes sense.
He was a facilitator, a traditional point guard who found his teammates for open looks and didn’t force any shots of his own.
He was solid both offensively and defensively.
Rohan Barlow (Brisbane Grammar)
The Brisbane Grammar First V are lucky to have Barlow as another scoring option but also an elite rebounder.
At the weekend he racked up over 20 rebounds and chipped in 14 points on his team’s way to a convincing 22-point-victory.
Roman Siulepa and Sailan Sales (Brisbane State High)
One of the competition’s best duos were at the peak of their powers in Ipswich on Saturday, especially late in the third quarter went they sparked a comeback.
Siulepa’s physicality and athleticism mixed with Sales’ soft touch snatched the game from Ipswich’s hands after a slow-ish start saw them trailing until three minutes left in the third.
Eli Murray (Brisbane State High)
BSHS unearthed a Year 10 weapon on Saturday and his name is Eli Murray.
He was a lockdown defender who looked comfortable handling the ball in front of a packed gym.
Joel Mynott (Ipswich Grammar)
Ipswich Grammar showed plenty of fight and at the forefront was Mynottt who is playing his second year of First V basketball.
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