GPS basketball’s players of the week revealed as mid-season final looms
GPS First V Basketball’s leading performers from Rd 4 highlighted here ahead of a blockbuster weekend that could decide the premiership. See who starred here.
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A battle of the bigs looms in round five of the GPS First V basketball season when competition heavyweights collide in a mid season spectacle that could decide the premiership.
Brisbane Boys’ College (3-0) travel away to Churchie (4-0) in a blockbuster between the only two unbeaten teams left in the competition.
BBC is coming off a scrappy 76-70 win over The Southport School and Churchie is in good form having overcome a quality Toowoomba Grammar outfit 104-97 in round four.
The two biggest centres in the competition, Kurt Siwek (Churchie) and Zeke Byrne (BBC) will go head to head in a game that is sure to have a premiership feel to it.
Churchie centre Siwek, 210cm, had overcome a rolled ankle and split tibia in the pre-season and another rolled ankle just prior to season tip-off to be a key player in Churchie’s crucial seven point triumph last weekend.
“He was huge” Churchie coach Drew Summerfield said.
“He came out and played big minutes. He was a beast inside and outside.”
Big man Siwek is only just getting back into his groove after missing much of the pre-season and even the first game, but when he is on the floor Churchie are a different team.
“Once he gets back to full health he will be out of control,” Summerfield said of Siwek, who was “killing it” before an injury in the first pre-season game required bolts to be put in.
“He has matured a lot in the last year … He is very much about the team, the culture … He is a very cerebral player.”
BBC also have their own man mountain, towering centre Zeke Byrne, 207cm, who came to BBC as a raw player.
“He has really put in the work developing his footwork around the basket and his touch to match his physicality,,” BBC coach Mike Ayanbadejo said.
A “highly coachable player almost looking for the little details on how to improve”, Byrne’s defensive awareness gives BBC’s guards a cushion.
“He is able to rotate and help out our guards on dribble penetration and alter shots. He is not just a blocker.”
The QSL Southern Districts Spartans program member is a gentle giant, a personable kid off the court and a man on a mission when on the hardwood.
“He allows us to get after it and be a bit more aggressive defensively knowing we have the big fella rotating down.... it is assured to know if they (our guards) do get beat Zeke is there to rotate over.”
GPS FIRST V BASKETBALL’S BEST NEW FACES
ROUND FOUR TOP PERFORMERS
Lennon Bann (Brisbane Grammar)
Bann is a bad man.
At least he has shown that so far this season, with his thunderous dunks, relentless rebounding, and all-out hustle seeing Brisbane Grammar to a promising 2-1 start.
Against Nudgee, Bann was a presence down low and a selfless customer whose active hands caused havoc for Nudgee.
Marcus Forbes (Brisbane Grammar)
Fantastic Forbes was to the fore at Nudgee on the weekend, swinging momentum with his hustle grappling for rebounds, running the floor in transition and making the right passes.
He was a key player for the visitors, but did you know Forbes was an elite rower who earlier this year represented the Queensland Schoolboys VIII at the Rowing Australia Pathway Competition in Sydney.
Talk about an athlete.
Lee Van Der Westhuizen (BBC)
Versatile Westhuizen was making up for lost time at in the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex when it mattered most on Saturday,
After missing much of last season through injury, the tall, jack of all trades Westhuizen made a winning impact with his play making ability and leadership on both ends a point of difference for the home side.
Emerson Juhasz (BBC)
In a big game like the one played between TSS and BBC, Emerson Juhasz stepped up and took charge to deliver BBC a hard earned six point win.
Juhasz stopped the bleeding at times with timely buckets, got to work inside, sunk a handful of treys and his mere presence on the floor gave BBC a mental boost.
Isaiah Jorgenson (Nudgee)
Nudgee’s young gun hooper Isaiah Jorgenson wasn’t deterred by Brisbane Grammar’s hot 16-0 start and remained a threat throughout.
It all started on the defensive end where the rangy athlete attacked the boards and deterred shots and in attack Jorgenson was confident attacking the rim and finishing some tough lays.
After learning on the job last season, Jorgenson is flourishing with more opportunity.
Jack Tweedy (TSS)
Yet again Tweedy was calm, composed and classy under pressure.
Playing the whole game, Tweedy had to withstand harassing defence from a myriad of talented BBC guards.
He passed that test with flying colours, the Year 11 ace controlling the tempo and coming up with big play after big play, both scoring and creating his teammates.
Riley Oberman (TSS)
Saturday wasn’t the first time Oberman has shone for TSS and it won’t be the last.
TSS’s spark plug off the bench, Oberman came on and provided a huge presence inside, both on the boards and with his tricky interior scoring.
He gave big man Byrne a good run for his money in a tough tussle down low.
Ty Lockwood (TSS)
Mr do it all Lockwood did whatever needed to be done on both ends of the floor on Saturday.
An all or nothing performer, Lockwood “will give everything he has to try and help his team scratch out a win” according to coach Anthony Petrie.
He is the type of player that does the little things that go unnoticed or unappreciated, but his teammates and coach sure notice his value as an integral member of the team.
Peja Ahwang (Ipswich Grammar)
It has been a productive week for the Ahwang family.
On Saturday Peja was fantastic, an almost unstoppable force getting down hill towards the rim.
He scored 22 points against Brisbane State High and two days later his younger brother Derek was selected in the Queensland Reds Under-15s rugby squad.
Dylan Atkinson (Ipswich Grammar)
In a losing effort, Atkinson maintained his high energy levels to influence the game for Ipswich Grammar.
He threw in 14 points on 5-8 shooting, and came alive in the third quarter with an inspired effort to rally a comeback.
In the third frame he had three and-ones.
Sam Geu (Toowoomba Grammar)
Geu kept his foot on the gas after a stunning display of athleticism and talent helped Toowoomba Grammar topple TSS the week prior.
Against another formidable opponent in Churchie, Year 12 leader Geu had plenty left in his bag of tricks and quickly got to work from the mid-range, down low, and from three point land where he made the most of his opportunity.
Keahn Tuakura (Toowoomba Grammar)
While Toowoomba Grammar’s rugby team would not mind having former rugby wrecking ball Tuakura for the First XV season, it was on the hardwood where Tuakura is at his best.
On Saturday he was well and truly in his element, with pressure on, the premiership trophy in the back of his mind and arguably the deepest side in the competition coming at him.
He took it all in his stride and dominated the paint with some tough finishes and an array of post moves which you’d think he had been rehearsing his whole life.
But no, he only picked up three game three years ago.
Oskar Olechnowicz (Churchie)
Oskar Olechnowicz is the type of player who could have a quiet game and still drop 20 points.
He is the player you think is being locked down but still manages to find a way and lead all scorers.
The silent assassin from the Logan Thunder scored an all important 28 points in his team’s away victory.
Noah Kirk (Churchie)
Last week Churchie coach Drew Summerfield said “I think he will get better as he gets more used to it,” and he was spot on.
His Year 10 defensive menace Kirk found his groove in a must win round four encounter, the Cairns conductor a game breaker from behind the arc.
Kirk scored 19 points, dished out eight assists, snared four steals and hit a timely corner three with 2:40 left which extended Churchie’s lead to 99-90.
Kurt Siwek (Churchie)
What a battle it will be on Saturday when Churchie big man Kurt Siwek butts horns with BBC big man Zeke Byrne.
On Saturday, Siwek relished an individual battle against Keahn Tuakura and stood his ground, the centre putting up 18 points and reeling in nine rebounds.
For someone so tall, you have to admire Siwek’s touch around the rim.
Geoffrey Peterson and CJ Amos (Brisbane State High)
Brisbane State High’s young veterans stood up to help down Ipswich Grammar with the powerful Peterson throwing in 24 and the crafty Amos notching 23 points in a great showing by the dynamic duo.
Jasper Jones and Raj Gill (Brisbane State High)
Jones and Gill also played a key role in the triumph at home for Brisbane State High, newcomer Jones scoring an all-important 14 while Queensland representative Gill added 13.
Both boys were also influential picking up the intensity in the second quarter to turn a 27-all deadlock into a 18 point halftime advantage.
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