TSS’s Ben Tweedy was the first player selected in our GPS Basketball Player of the Week
Our GPS Basketball Players of the Week list includes a guard from TSS who dropped a 50-ball, an athletic big man from Ipswich Grammar and a deep-three specialist from Nudgee College.
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Round 2 of the GPS Basketball season had everything, including a 50 point game from The Southport School’s Ben Tweedy, an impressive win by Toowoomba Grammar over Brisbane State High and an enthralling game between Nudgee and Ipswich.
Nudgee beat Ipswich 89-74, Toowoomba stormed home late to win 101-85 over Brisbane State High, Churchie beat Brisbane Grammar 84-65 and the Southport School finished strongly to claim a 118-100 victory over Gregory Terrace.
At Terrace, Ben Tweedy was assertive on both sides of the floor, and picked Gregory Terrace apart on his way to a 53-point explosion.
This followed his 35-point game against Ipswich Grammar in round 1.
GPS BASKETBALL: ROUND 1 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
GPS BASKETBALL: ROUND 1 TEAM LISTS
TSS head coach Anthony Petrie said Tweedy was not only a great kid but a “lifer,” which he described as someone who will be in the game forever.
“He has grown up with the game and he lives and breathes basketball,” Petrie said about Tweedy, whose dad Neal coaches the Rockhampton Rockets in the NBL1 North competition.
It said everything about Tweedy’s love of his school and the game that after getting back from a college recruiting trip in the United States on Wednesday, the jet-lagged Tweedy was ready and raring for the first round fixture.
“He didn’t have his body clock right and he still competed,” Petrie said in praise of Tweedy after round 1.
“It doesn’t matter what time it is or the condition he is in … He turns up ready to play.”
Petrie said Tweedy leads with both his actions but also his words.
“He is definitely vocal.
“His care … He wants all the boys to have success. He’s passionate about the game.
“He gets respect because he plays so hard, he has such a high IQ and he is always on the mark with what he says to the group.”
So who joined Tweedy, who is now averaging 44 points per game, in our Round 2 Players of the Week?
See below.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Toowoomba Grammar School 101 beat Brisbane State High 85
Roman Siulepa (Brisbane State High)
Siulepa wouldn’t be content with himself after his performance but he still had a strong game.
He was physically overwhelming, aggressive with his drives to the rack, confident from behind the arc and full of energy despite playing pretty much the whole game.
Some of the easy ones just weren’t falling and if they did the result would’ve been different.
Kailan Sales (Brisbane State High)
Again sales was a figure of calmness for his side. He was unselfish but shot the open ones, a great passer and an even better offensive rebounder.
When the ball was loose, Sales claimed it and immediately looked for an outlet.
Geoffrey Peterson (Brisbane State High)
When Brisbane State High needed to begin mounting their comeback, this guy was first to get it started.
Doing his best work in the paint, Peterson quickly chipped away at Toowoomba's lead and before his rivals could blink BSHS were within striking distance.
He was responsible for that timely fourth quarter run but Toowoomba responded accordingly and ran away winners.
Nudgee 89 beat Ipswich Grammar 74
Harrison McAuliffe (Ipswich)
In the first half Nudgee threatened to push away but McAuliffe made sure his side stayed within striking distance.
Athletic with a mean spin move, the bouncy McAuliffe made Nudgee pay when
1) they didn’t box out
And 2) when they contested him at the rim.
Justin Ventic (Ipswich)
While Macauliffe was finishing three-point-plays and accruing offensive rebounds, the shifty Ventic was getting to his spots and enthralling the crowd.
Small with a Lionsheart, Ventic drained threes, jump shots and floaters in close – only after an array of dribble moves detached the defender from his hip.
Joaquin Tulloch (Nudgee)
Tulloch played the most minutes, handled the ball the most and was decisive with how he wanted to attack.
On Saturday, he sunk a couple threes and one of them was from deep.
But he doesn’t just chuck up threes, watch for his tough interior game as well as his pesky defence.
Rylan Carlisle (Nudgee)
This guy had the softest touch on the court.
Just inside the three point line is where Carlisle excelled. He dropped in half a dozen jump shots and could’ve had two threes if the rims were friendly.
He was also an elite screener and strong rebounder.
Churchie 84 beat Brisbane Grammar 65
Rohan Barlow (Brisbane Grammar)
Barlow collected loose rebounds, and defended astutely in that fourth quarter where Brisbane Grammar won by three.
Churchie were a different unit after half time, where they were only marginally ahead 33-30.
Lachlan Curtin (Brisbane Grammar)
It’s hard to imagine Curtin will go a game without being one of his team’s strongest performers.
He is an intelligent defender with good co-ordination and a big presence down low. On Saturday, he made six foot look like six foot six.
Max Balthes (Brisbane Grammar)
Balthes makes our Players of the Week for the first time this season in what is his fourth year of First V Basketball.
A guard with a deep offensive skillet, Balthes played his role to perfection against a tall Churchie outfit.
Oskar Olechnowicz (Churchie)
Olechnowicz had an outstanding performance, leading all three categories with 25 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
He was a man-possessed.
Caleb Cronn (Churchie)
Churchie went on an insane third quarter run and Cronn, along with Nash Harding, Edward Storen and Olechnowicz were sinking threes with ease,
Cronn finished with a cool 19 and five (assists) while the valuable Storen chipped in 11 of his own.
The Churchie boys shot 52% from behind the arc.
The Southport School 118 beat Gregory Terrace 100
Ben Tweedy (TSS)
Are we looking at the best player in the competition? Yes there are plenty of talented players but Tweedy is no less talented. He has started the season on fire and if he stays hot no one stands a chance.
Jaylen Pitman (TSS)
When the going got tough, Pitman raised his hand and took control of the game.
It was halfway through the fourth when Pitman’s plucky defence and transition offence turned a two-point lead into a double-digit lead which Gregory Terrace couldn’t come back from with only a handful of possessions left.
His right handed finger roll layup dealt the damage in the fourth, and with Tweedy, he put Terrace to bed.
Corey Laffan (Terrace)
Against a team like Southport, every player has to contribute. And contributing his best efforts yet was forward Laffan, who had to have been Gregory Terrace’s best on the day.
He’s tallish, strong and can shoot from all over the court. On Saturday, he showed that.
Paul Papacostas (Terrace)
Papacostas worked overtime and despite the result, he should hold his head high.
A dominant interior player, Papacostas earned his usual three-point-plays and looked in prime form attacking TSS’ defences down low.
He has had two strong performances to start the year.
Hunter and Phoenix Trego also found themselves in their bag, but Tweedy terrorised the Terrace defence on his team’s way to an incredible 118 points.
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