GPS Basketball: The super 25 players revealed after thrilling Round 4 clashes
Meet the 25 top players from GPS Basketball’s fourth round as Brisbane State High assume the box seat, Ipswich Grammar deliver on Old Boys day and a crafty Nudgee baller sinks 44.
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An arm wrestle unfolded at State High, with the home side coming out all guns blazing, before a recovery by Terrace saw them snatch a lead in the final quarter.
You can always expect a comeback from Mathew Hamilton-Smith’s boys. After blows early by State High saw them creep out to a nice double digit lead, it was another half time debrief that flipped the switch in the minds of hungry Terrace First V Basketballers.
After a fired up resurgence in the second half, Terrace were back in it. But, it was State High who triumphed by four in the end, escaping 73-69 in an absolute spectacle.
State High basketball director Brett Sue See commended Terrace, saying “they played a great game. They took it to us. They were physical. But to get away with it at our place was great.”
“It was a special day (State High Day), and to have a crowd like that for the boys was great. It’s something they don’t often get to experience,” Sue See said.
In Ipswich, the Old Boys were delighted to watch on as their First V boys tamed an ever improving Brisbane Grammar outfit.
Ipswich Grammar’s triumphant 90-80 victory, on what is the biggest day of the year in the calendar, was nothing short of special for the entire college community.
All the while, Southport struck away 100-86 winners over Churchie and Nudgee clinched a 86-80 victory thanks to a 44 point explosion by Nate Scott.
THE SUPER 25 FROM ROUND FOUR
Elijah Kamu (State High)
He rebounded well, shot sharply from behind the arc and provided great physical presence.
His size and physicality on both ends of the floor was one of the main reasons State High came away with it.
He gave Terrace star Nazar Angallo no breathing room, which is a game changer in itself.
Jimmy Ellis
Ellis controlled the plays and the game very well with ball in hand. He’s a smooth mover, with superb ball handling skills.
He always had a defender pressed against him but he wouldn’t panic. He moves at his pace, and doesn’t throw turnovers.
What’s most impressive about Ellis is his ball security, especially for someone of his height.
Not to mention he shot the lights out and racked up the rebounds.
Kailan Sales
Year 11 Kailan Sales had a great showing. Sales is a young piece of his school’s program, so for him to perform how he did in one of State High’s biggest games was one of the feel good moments of the season.
State High director of sport Brett Sue See was not only happy for Sales, but impressed with the quality of basketball he played.
Nate Scott (Nudgee College)
Scott was on fire against BBC, scoring 40 of the best. Yes you heard it correctly.
He scored 44 of Nudgee’s 86 as he spearheaded them to their first win of the 2022 season.
The word you use for a performance like this is carry. With an array of three pointers in the first and fourth quarter, the Year 12 had to be possessed.
Whether it was bank shots off one foot or carving his way through strong defence and finishing, Scott was sensational in every meaning of the word.
Nudgee’s go-to hit a huge three to equalise the scores at 72 with four minutes left, swinging all the momentum his team’s way.
He cashed in yet another three to take the lead and cap off a stunning 8-0 solo scoring run.
Tyson Warren (Nudgee College)
The thing that makes Warren stand out is his spin move and jab step, which allows him to get plenty of points in the paint.
With his long arms and strides, he was very hard to handle. On top of that, he has a soft touch at the rim and also very good coordination and handles for a big man.
He was very impressive, given how many minutes and buckets he contributed while battling an injury.
Nikos Karathanasopoulos (The Southport School)
Karathanasopoulos’ last minute on the court was enough to earn his spot on the list. The Southport big put the nail in the coffin on Saturday afternoon as Southport struck away late to defeat Churchie.
After Churchie continued to eat away at the deficit, things were getting a tad too close for Karathanasopoulos’ liking, so he scored a tough bucket through contact and followed up with two huge swats late.
What a force he was on both ends of the floor.
Hunter Trego (Gregory Terrace)
Wow, Trego was impressive. At some stages, he had his team on his back.
He just seemed up for it. He was ready for the challenge both mentally and physically.
Initially, State High got the better of Terrace, dominating early on with a court packed with support.
Trego wasn’t phased. He stuck to his guns, and took every play as it came. Once he saw a couple of shots go down he got into a nice rhythm and didn’t look like missing.
He was the most threatening and efficient on the court.
Phoenix Trego (Gregory Terrace)
Phoenix Trego took a leaf out of his brother Hunter’s book, after witnessing him catch fire.
He was aggressive, a nightmare to deal with on both sides of the floor and was just hungry.
Hungry to win. Hungry to show up for his team. And hungry not to go down without a fight.
These twins are the real deal.
Michael Tokiyawa (Ipswich Grammar)
Ipswich’s best player on the court was Tokiyawa. He was their best defender, going at it with Lebron Brooks for long periods of time in an elite defensive showing.
Brooks makes tough shots, but Tokiyawa was there working overtime to lock him down.
He grinded it out. Having been in a slump over the last few weeks, the toughness and determination on defence from Tokiyawa left that in the past.
He would have had a good nights sleep.
Ryan Carlisle (Nudgee College)
Carlisle was big down the stretch for Nudgee First V and his unsung heroics had a huge part to play in their victory.
He made a few subtle but timely plays including a crucial lay up through contact in the death to give Nudgee the edge.
Ben Tweedy (The Southport School)
Tweedy tallied up a ton of tough finishes on Saturday. He was a force around the rim and with his ability to knock down shots when it mattered most, he steered Southport home.
Caleb Cronn (Churchie)
Cronn had a quiet day but started heating up in the fourth quarter with some more aggressive play. He top scored with a lazy 19 points and five assists.
Kurt Siwek (Churchie)
15-year-old Kurt Siwek cemented himself as a dominant big for the future of his school’s program with a double double.
Siwek had 14 points while dominating the rebounds, pulling down a massive 18 for the game.
Lee Van Der Wesrhuizen (BBC)
Lee Van Der Wesrhuizen was another standout for BBC with four threes and a swag of other points.
MacKenzie Jolly (Churchie)
Jolly helped the team’s pace, scoring in transition nicely on plenty of fast-breaks.
Jolly had a strong 18 point showing, however Southport managed to hold Jolly and his teammates off as they rallied persistently on the comeback.
James Pearson (Ipswich Grammar)
Pearson’s ever growing confidence on the court was on show Saturday, with a superb 26 point game, 20 of which first half buckets.
The Ipswich Old Boys loved it. With an aggressive and attacking mindset, Pierson continued to get to the rim, hence his efficient 83.3% shooting night from the field.
Harrison McAuliffe, Xaviah Bricknell-Lehmann and Fletcher Doyle (Ipswich Grammar)
With 11, 12 and 13 rebounds respectively, this trio really stepped up.
What an effort from the three of them to put Ipswich on the front foot and help ignite their offense.
It was a similar story in round 3 with McAuliffe grabbing nine, Bricknell-Lehman grabbing six and Doyle grabbing seven.
They picked it up a notch in round 4 against fierce competition in Brisbane Grammar who were spearheaded by guard Lebron Brooks.
Lebron Brooks (Brisbane Grammar)
Brooks was terrific like he always is. As a year 10, Brooks is taking the competition by storm.
Despite not getting the call of the whistle and getting harassed defensively by Ipswich Grammar, he kept fighting.
He continues to show his class, delivering another 20 point game on Saturday.
James Eccleston (Brisbane Grammar)
Eccleston’s energy was incredible. The Year 12 shooting guard had his best game of the season yet.
He played the game the right way with some great effort plays.
Jared Gluch (BBC)
Gluch had another captains knock on Saturday. He was unlucky not to get his shots to fall around the rim but he was impressive nonetheless.
He had a couple tough finishes and was a force in the paint.
Lachlan Curtin (Brisbane Grammar)
Curtin was up to his usual tricks against Ipswich on Saturday. Offensive rebounds, effort plays and strong takes to the cup.
By the way he dominates, you would think he is six inches taller.
Paul Papacostas (Gregory Terrace)
It may not have shown on the stat sheet, but Papacostas’ impact was priceless.
With his team looking to overcome a significant height disadvantage, Papacostas really showed up.
Going up against the likes of giant Abass Bodija and Elijah Kamu was never going to be easy but Papacostas did incredible.
He prevented both of them from getting going. On attack, he wasn’t afraid to use his size to get to the cup and finish off high percentage shots.
With limited space and tough opposition, the big man was a workhorse. His defensive presence cannot go unnoticed.
Daniel Graham (BBC)
The BBC basketball program has a good one in Year 10 stud Daniel Graham.
He tallied up a brilliant 20 points against Nudgee. It was a heat check that he required after getting his team back in the contest.
He had the hot hand. Behind the arc, he delivered countless timely buckets. From down 10 to up nine going into the fourth.
It was four three pointers in four minutes that rattled Nudgee and gave BBC the upperhand.
But, Nudgee’s Nate Scott stepped in.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Otto Dwyer (Brisbane Grammar)
Dwyer is another exciting Year 10 which makes up Brisbane Grammar’s young core.
He came in and impressed. With some timely buckets for his team, he kept them in the game when they needed to score.
ROUND 5
Toowoomba v Churchie
State High v Ipswich
BBC v Southport
Nudgee v Brisbane Grammar
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