GPS basketball’s Rd 7 top guns unveiled as Churchie take title
After snaring the GPS First XI football premiership, Churchie will raise another banner following their Rd 7 success that secured the GPS First V basketball title. See who starred from each school here.
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After claiming a cherished GPS First XI football premiership in term 2, Churchie have scored a double delight securing the GPS First V basketball title following a 108-93 success over Ipswich Grammar last weekend.
Undefeated through seven games, Churchie have dealt with the best of the best this season and their 34 point third quarter against IGS in round seven sealed at worst a shared premiership.
HOW GPS FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND 7 UNFOLDED
“We have one more challenge ahead and an undefeated season is within our grasp,” said coach Drew Summerfield, who hopes his side can finish the season on a high against TSS in round eight.
It’s no secret Churchie had a squad capable of the premiership, but hard work, dedication and and an uncanny ability to close out games was what made it possible.
The competition’s next best team, the resurgent Brisbane Grammar School, are also still in premiership contention if TSS topple Churchie at the Coast this weekend.
Brisbane Grammar, after going winless in the 2020 season and losing some games by upwards of 100, have completed a dramatic turnaround of the program this season to challenge for the title.
It’s worth noting Brisbane Grammar took the premiers all the way in round one before Kai Summerfield (four threes) and Nash Harding (fourth quarter explosion) helped Churchie pull away 108-91 in a game of inches.
All this from a team who were without arguably its two best players, Lebron Brooks and Max Balthes, who were touring America playing basketball.
A grand finale between Churchie and Brisbane Grammar would be worth the admission price, that is for sure.
In other round seven match-ups, Toowoomba Grammar squeezed past Nudgee 86-73, BBC dealt with Gregory Terrace 86-66 and Brisbane Grammar defeated Brisbane State High 95-73.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Logan Siolo (Gregory Terrace)
You had to admire the late game brilliance of Gregory Terrace First V vice-captain Logan Siolo who shrugged off the scoreboard pressure, put his head down and went to work.
The game had been won by BBC heading into the final quarter, but that did not stop the ultra confident sharp shooter from draining four threes and dropping 19 of his 25 points.
Yes he scored 19 points in the final frame and yes he was on a heater.
Zach Duncan (Gregory Terrace)
Year 10 centre Zach Duncan gave supporters a glimpse of what is to come with a gritty performance where he worked for every one of his buckets.
Duncan was a pest on the glass and had a soft touch at the rim to reward himself for his effort.
Cooper Wilson (BBC)
BBC’s unsung hero continued to enhance his reputation as a key cog in the rotation by contributing an important 14 points.
The lefty was calm and collected throughout and sunk shots of high importance before BBC’s lead shot out into the 20s.
Charlie Winks (BBC)
The athletic, rim wrecking wing was at the peak of his powers for BBC.
He scored 17 points, slammed a dunk home, ran the floor with ferocity and often proved impossible to stop when attacking the cup.
He was all business scoring eight points well before half time.
Charlie Hinson (BBC)
He is a silent assassin, someone very important to BBC’s premiership pursuit this season and last.
The three point specialist led all scorers on Saturday at Terrace, Hinson posting 20 points with most of them coming from deep.
He was efficient and held his own on the defensive end.
Rohan Barlow (Brisbane Grammar)
Rohan Barlow came to play down low for Brisbane Grammar and it was just what the doctor ordered against an aggressive Brisbane State High team who never went away.
His good positioning and defence in the middle demanded respect and with Lebron Brooks also firing from the mid range, Brisbane Grammar were always in front.
Lennon Bann (Brisbane Grammar)
Imagine James Harden of the Clippers, Kristaps Porzingis of the Celtics or Tobias Harris of the 76ers.
Bann is that player capable of exploding at any given time, but given the quality and depth of his teammates, sometimes he does not need to.
On Saturday, he was as dominant as ever, conjuring a performance that someone like Harden or Porzingis would produce here or there last NBA season to remind folks why they are stars in the league.
In this league, Bannan is a brute.
Orlando Geary (Brisbane Grammar)
Producing a similar impact to BBC hustler Cooper Wilcox who came off the bench against Terrace, Brisbane Grammar guard Orlando Geary was influential in spurts off the bench.
The plucky and skilful guard had an impact onlookers would have doft their cap to such was the importance of his cameo in keeping the physical Brisbane State High boys at bay.
One of the premier on ball defenders in the competition, Geary was a thief in defence and always a trusted option in offence.
Raj Gill (Brisbane State High)
Brisbane State High’s prime mover was to the fore with his drives, defensive interference and shot blocking.
The athletic Queensland Under-18s select led the charge and his presence out there kept his team in the hunt until the final frame.
CJ Amos (Brisbane State High)
Much like his brother Mason did in 2022, CJ provided plenty of highlights against a plucky Brisbane Grammar outfit who defended well.
The crafty Amos was a supreme facilitator for his teammates but one-on-one he also had his way getting to a shot and making his rivals pay.
Jake Miles-Wrency (Churchie)
How appropriate it was that the versatile Jakes Miles-Wrency bobbed up to produce his best performance of the year in the premiership clinching match.
Much like how he did in 2023 producing his best basketball late in the year, Miles-Wrency made a ripping return from injury by stuffing the stat sheet.
He scored 22 points, reeled in 11 rebounds, dished out four assists and swatted away four shots.
Andrew Watene (Churchie)
Here’s a name that will be echoing across the GPS First V basketball competition for years to come.
Andrew Watene, 14, again had his say in Churchie’s triumph by adding a cool 18 points and four assists.
Oh and he made an impact on the defensive end as well where he snared three steals.
Connor Davidson (Churchie)
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the newly crowned premiers with Ipswich Grammar giving them a real run for their money.
In this context, the work of big Connor Davidson off the bench was all-important.
In 25 minutes the dogged Davidson scored 12 points and brought down an impressive 12 rebounds.
Charlie Mogg (Ipswich Grammar)
Mogg was the man at Churchie, the silky smooth youngster at the epicentre of Ipswich Grammar’s gallant confrontation of his unbeaten foes.
Ipswich Grammar were right there the whole way and the shifty No.10 ensured this by giving his side a big boost off the bench.
In just 15 minutes he dropped 13 points on 6-11 shooting with three quickfire treys showing he is not to be taken lightly from behind the arc.
Lucas Bourke (Ipswich Grammar)
Bourke was brilliant in an efficient flurry off the bench.
Stemming the bleeding when Churchie went on runs in the first and third quarter, Bourke shot 5-5 from the field, got a steal and an assist in a positive 13 minute performance.
When he was on the floor, Ipswich Grammar went toe-to-toe with its opposition.
Tyson Warren (Nudgee)
The athletic Warren was the full package for Nudgee, who started hot on a 10-nil run.
A player with the potential to explode for 30 points, Warren did the little things right like box out for rebounds and he was just confident getting to the rim.
Keahn Tuakura (Tooowoomba Grammar)
Another Saturday, another stat sheet stuffed from the hulking Gladstone gun.
Keahn Tuakura, as he so often does, proved too big and too strong for the opposition’s frontline. This time around it was Nudgee’s turnb to try and contain him.
Despite battling sickness all week, the Queensland Under-18 select came away with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.
Tawana Ngorima (Toowoomba Grammar)
The plucky young veteran had his fingerprints all over Toowoomba Grammar’s away vicory.
Influential as always, Tawana Ngorima was a flashy customer who came away with four assists but could have had twice as many had the rim been friendlier to his teammates.
In transition Ngorima was a neusance and he controlled the tempo well to guide his team to safety.
Tyler Saal (Toowoomba Grammar)
The passionate sharp shooter changed the intensity of the game for Toowoomba Grammar which was essential after a slow start.
Saul escaped Boondall with 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a cracking showing where he had a plus-minus of 20.
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