GPS First V basketball: Award winners revealed following bumper season
The Southport School were on another level in the GPS Basketball competition, taking out their second successive premiership. Now we honour players from all nine schools in NBA styled awards. All is revealed here.
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The Southport School came first, Churchie second, then Gregory Terrace and Brisbane State High shared third place as the GPS basketball season draws to a close for another year.
What a season it was. Down the Gold Coast coach Anthony Petrie had superstar guard Ben Tweedy lead the TSS side to back-to-back premierships.
There were green shoots at Brisbane Grammar, positive signs for next season at BBC and green release shooting at Gregory Terrace.
So to conclude the season that was, let’s take a look at some award winners from all nine teams.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
JAYLEN PITMAN (TSS)
BEN TWEEDY (TSS)
ROMAN SIULEPA (BSHS)
OSKAR OLECHNOWICZ (CHURCHIE)
HUNTER TREGO (GREGORY TERRACE)
6TH MAN
KAILAN SALES (BSHS)
COACH OF THE YEAR
ANTHONY PETRIE (TSS)
GPS BASKETBALL 2022 AWARD WINNERS
GREGORY TERRACE
MVP: Hunter and Phoenix Trego
Twins Phoenix and Hunter Trego take out this award in our book.
Terrace the Brave live and die by these elite shooters and they will be sorely missed in 2024.
Green light shooters, Hunter and Phoenix can sink a shot from anywhere on the court.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Corey Laffan
He played a little last year but this year he was on a different level.
He had a special game against BBC in round 8 after playing his role to perfection to begin the season.
Don’t leave him open.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Paul Papacostas
He rebounded like a man possessed and his defence was strong.
He was also a trusted scoring option.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Logan Siolo
Siolo is a sniper and the Trego brothers will hand him the batten for next season as Terrace prepare for life without Papacostas, Jacob Shaw, Ethan Sun and the Trego twins.
BEST SHOOTER: Phoenix Trego
Cannot be left open and even when kept close, he will let it fly in your face with high likelihood of it going in.
WHO ARE THE HOMEGROWN TALENTS OF GPS BASKETBALL
GPS BASKETBALL ROUND 5 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
BRISBANE STATE HIGH
MVP: Kailan Sales and Roman Siulepa
It was impossible to split the two.
Siulepa is the best pound for pound hooper in the competition, but the season Sales had was special.
Sales is a handy two way player with height and good shooting form and Siulepa a serious athlete.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Eli Murray
The Year 10 student played back up point guard and was immense.
His pestering full court defence made life a living hell for his rivals.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Makai Green
Wearing jersey No. 44, Green was a titan.
The BSHS big man had a blinder against Terrace in round 6, blocking shots for fun an smashing the glass.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Geoffrey Peterson
Jersey No. 32 gave coach Kris Robinson starting level minutes.
He was a beast on the offensive rebounds and could get himself free for a timely three.
BEST SHOOTER: Elijah Tupou
He didn’t score many points or put up many shots, but the Year 8 student is a knockdown shooter.
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
MVP: Ben Tweedy
He controls the pace of the game, he runs the team he has had games of 50.
Yes plural.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ash McGrath
McGrath hardly played last year but was productive in more minutes this season.
He will have a much bigger role next season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jaylen Pitman
The best downhill player in the competition.
He can put it on the rim at an elite level and would be MVP if Tweedy didn’t drop video game numbers.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Indy Cotton
He shouldn’t be the Sixth Man of the Year but TSS are so stacked they don’t need to start him.
A Year 10, Cotton would be a max minute starter on every other team.
BEST SHOOTER: BEN TWEEDY
Of course he is the best shooter. But spare a thought for Jack Foley who can catch fire quick.
Footnote: Byron Bay big man Jackson McCabe was also arguably the best big in the competition and was a highlight reel player.
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR
MVP: Rahul Captain
It was a tough decision but Captain’s contributions and scoring consistency ultimately has him here.
He took the tougher defensive assignments and his overall impact did not go unnoticed.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Keahn Tuakura
He grew up playing rugby league and rugby union but made the decision to specialise in hoops.
The big man made a good call and the proof is his selection in the Queensland North under 16s and under 18s sides.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sam Geu
His rim protection was unrivalled.
With springs under him, Geu swatted away shots, grabbed rebounds and had an imposing presence down low.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Isaac Barac and Tyler Saul
Saul was a three point catch-and-shoot specialist who could get his own bucket while Barac took a level up in his game.
After playing 10As last year, Barac burst onto the scene with his clutch gene shooting TGS back into more games than one.
BEST SHOOTER: Rahul Captain
He was efficient from behind the arc but when it wasn’t falling he found a way to contribute.
A coaches dream player.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
MVP: Lachlan Curtin and Lebron Brooks
The Brisbane Grammar basketball program won’t be the same without Curtin.
Someone who plays with his heart on his sleeve, Curtin has been Mr. Consistent over the last three years and punched above his weight to be one of the competition’s best rebounders.
It was impossible to decide on one player because Lebron Brooks, playing through a broken thumb, was also terrific for Brisbane Grammar.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Lennon Bann
The Year 10 student looked right at home playing against the best basketball talent in the state.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rohan Barlow
Barlow was a fierce on-ball defender who swung momentum with his defensive pressure.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: George Mercer
He started in three games, and came off the bench for five. In those five, he added a punch.
BEST SHOOTER: Max Balthes
He could’ve been MVP as well but we have him here for his shooting.
He can really get going.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
MVP: Emerson Juhasz
Emerson Juhasz is tough.
A Year 11 student, Juhasz is a two player who can shoot the lights out. Against Toowoomba Grammar that is what he did and it won BBC the game.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Charlie Hinson
Replacing injured Daniel Graham in the starting team, Year 10 laser Hinson settled right in.
He was a consistently good spot-up shooter who is fearless.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Zeke Byrne
He was a primary scoring option for BBC but also influenced games with his rim protection.
The big man was
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Lachlan Scroggie
He was a starter but we wanted to recognise him somewhere. The steady Scroggie was the BBC captain and led the way each week.
The man for a crises.
BEST SHOOTER: Lee Van der Westhuizen
His season was cut short by injury but prior to that he was looking sharp.
Although he has competition with Hinson, Westhuizen can score inside and out and can also use his size to his advantage.
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Luka Tripkovic
His man of the match performance against BBC was a highlight but don’t worry he had many more.
MVP AND DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Harrison McAuliffe
He was the IGS big man but at times he played like a guard.
He is athletic and could score from anywhere as well as block shots.
Not once did it surprise seeing him come away with 10 rebounds, three blocks and three assists and on the season he average a 20-point double-double.
Honourable Mention: Justin Ventic
Justin Ventic carried the scoring load, brought the ball up the court and did a bit of everything.
He left it all out there every single game.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: James Casaquite
He was efficient, didn’t take a shot that wasn’t there and played his role. What more can you ask?
CHURCHIE
MVP: Oskar Olechnowicz
A Spartans junior who arrived at Churchie from John Paul College, Olechnowicz took no time getting used to GPS hoops.
In his first season 16-year-old Olechnowicz averaged a double-double and spearheaded Churchie to second place.
Kurt Siwek also had a strong year and will be back, with Olechnowicz, next year.
SIXTH MAN AND ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Nash Harding
Harding came off the bench and being the rookie of the team, he was excellent.
Made the right plays, made the extra pass and didn’t overplay his hand.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mackenzie Jolly
Without a doubt Churchie’s best defender.
He came off the bench and created a spark with his speed, on ball defence and hustle.
Often guarded the best opposition player.
BEST SHOOTER: Ed Storen
The 201cm sporting all-rounder led the team in threes this season.
NUDGEE COLLEGE
MVP: Rylan Carlisle
Carlisle is a weapon, he is elite and he is one of the best bucket-getters in this competition.
He played almost every minute of every game and even when fatigued he would never settle for a three.
At his best when attacking.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Isaiah Jorgensen
Nudgee blooded Jorgensen this season and he didn’t look out of place.
With experience under his belt, the athletic Year 10 will be back better next season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rylan Carlisle
He was their best scorer but also their best defender.
It was a mystery how he could play such strong defence after going full pelt for four straight quarters.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Spencer Schmidt
Schmidt was a cool customer who was no pushover on defence, an accurate passer and a reliable shooter who made the most of his opportunities on the court.
BEST SHOOTER: Malden Markovic
He was like Kevin Durant off the dribble which means he was automatic from the mid range.
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