Top players on display at Basketball QLD U18 Club State Championships as Mackay, Spartans claim division 1 gold
Mackay Meteorettes have achieved the ultimate success in junior basketball, claiming the under-18s girls state championship. Find out how they did it.
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The 2025 Basketball Queensland Club State Championship has come to a close at Carrara Stadium following five days of intense competition.
From 50+ point games to those with ultimate defensive stature, we highlight the 40+ standouts from boys divisions 1 and 2 and girls divisions 1 to 4.
Plus, relive the finals action with a wrap of every division 1 and 2 gold medal clash: how it played out, who made an impact, who are your new under-18 State champions?
Finals wrapped
5pm - Boys division 1 gold
Five days of rivalry came to a head when the Southern Districts Spartans and Brisbane Capitals faced off for boys division 1 gold in front of a packed out crowd, with the Spartans ultimately proving too strong and walking away victors 111-104.
Playing through the week in opposite pools, the sides had not yet met one another but were clear grand final favourites early on.
A formidable big man, Brisbane’s Harry Cook impressed early by showing his range and being a force on defence.
There was some cause for concern when Charlie Winks picked up a second foul in under five minutes, though with level heads, the side survived the quarter and were 26-25 at the break.
It was no surprise Winks and Cook were making an early dent offensively, the pair having both recorded double-digit points in every appearance including a 41-piece from Cook in Saturday’s semi-final.
Lennon Bann was the only Spartan to do so heading into the grand final while also averaging 21.2 points.
Mitch Honeyman meanwhile was well-poised with the fourth highest average (28) of the competition.
Southern Districts were no stranger to a comeback, having fought their way from 20-down to win by two on day one.
It looked as though they were going to draw on this specialty on the big stage too, Honeyman sinking back-to-back triples to ignite a run which resulted in an eight-point buffer.
The momentum led to a 55-49 first half lead.
A high-scoring second half was on the cards early as both sides found their range and began racking up major points.
Bann, Honeyman and Romeo Link played vital roles in Spartans’ offensive efforts both in points and boards.
Cook kept things ticking at the other end as Capitals fought to stay in the contest despite trailing 82-76 at the final break.
Prayers to claw back the deficit went unanswered as Southern Districts continued to build, five players getting on the board including a team-high 30 from Noah Kirk.
Honeyman contributed 23 while Link and Bann each dropped 13.
Caps’ highest scorer was Luca Anderson with a commendable 35, complimented by Winks’s 25.
Meanwhile: The coastal stoush between North Gold Coast Seahawks and Gold Coast Rollers lived up to all expectations, with the former edging out their rivals 91-90. Lachlan Halloran stunned with 39 points of his own, 32 of which from the field. Sam Scott was Rollers’ top scorer with 18 followed closely by Ayden Merrylees with 16.
3:30pm - Girls division 1 gold
Early brain fog cost Logan Thunder gold in the division 1 grand final against a hungry Mackay Meteorettes, whose first quarter blitz proved all the difference to win 72-50.
Coach Ross Jensen, who will head Mackay’s NBL1 Women’s team in 2025, was elated by the result.
“We’ve had high hopes for this group from the start of the season,” he said.
“I’m not going to lie I’m pretty relieved with this result, and I’m glad to be able to go into the NBL1 season with the knowledge of this junior program as our core for us to add pieces around.
“Girls junior basketball in Mackay has been strong for five or more years now.
“For us to be consistently in the top four in the state I don’t think any other club has come close.”
It was an impressive shooting spree at the hands of guard duo Cheyenne Bobongie and Isabel Smith which kickstarted momentum in the first quarter, Mackay going into the break with a 20-4 buffer.
Centre Lily Mapp completed the dangerous offensive trio by getting to work under the post.
“It’s funny because our starts had been the worry for us through a lot of the tournament, and our motto was that no one was going to be able to go with us for 40 minutes. I’d said to the girls that games aren’t normally won in the first quarter but that’s almost what we went out and did in the final.
“We were clinical, we came out and hit shots and got stops, we followed the scout and got out to that early lead.
“And from there it was just a case of keeping the pressure on and rotating through our substitutions.”
Thunder found their groove early in the second quarter with a seven-point run which evidently stunned their rivals who failed to score until the third minute.
Rhianna Ape and Olivia Olechnowicz were key to the local’s sudden-found form at both ends of the court.
It was however a short-lived onslaught, Mackay responding in time to close the half still boasting an 37-23 advantage.
The second half opened in similar fashion, with Logan putting on a much better shooting performance than the opening period.
Tereise Reupena got involved with a number of assists and smart ball movement while the Mackay combo of Bobongie and Smith continued to shine under pressure.
Sharpshooter Eden Catip, on the back of an 18-point semi-final, executed consecutive steals to push the Meteorette’s lead out to a healthy 21 points.
The game was arguably out of reach by the final quarter though Logan’s efforts never dropped.
Olechnowicz finished with 17 points for a team high in the loss.
Mackay’s trusted backcourt of Bobongie and Smith recorded 23 and 17 respectively, including a combined five triples, to go in-hand with their hard-earned goldware.
Jensen was all praise for his young talents.
“Chey (Cheyenne Bobongie) is the ultimate competitor, she’s up there with the best shooters in the state,” he said.
“But her physicality, her defence and her toughness, they’re all there as well and she led by example.
“We’ve got our other star there in Izzie (Isabel) Smith, she’s impossible to match up on, but even when Logan tried to shut them down we had others who were able to take them apart.”
Meanwhile: It was an intense battle between Southern Districts Spartans and Titans for bronze, the latter claiming a 72-69 victory. Jacey Sturgeon and Holly McNamee sank a combined seven from deep in their losing effort, while Spartans’ Georgia Puruto top scored with 24 including four triples.
11am - Girls division 2 gold
The division 2 girls grand final between Logan Thunder and Toowoomba Mountaineers drew a captivated crowd to the stands.
With no clear favourite, both rosters put on a stellar show with Logan eventually clawing a 73-65 victory.
Thunder held just a single-point advantage at first break, but there was no room for error.
The contest remained close throughout, with no more than five points separating the sides until just 33 seconds were left in the third quarter.
Esita Niyonizeye executed key steals late in the second half to bring it back to level after a mior but costly drop in energy on Logan’s bench.
The side went into halftime leading just 36-34.
Toowoomba trio Millie Natalier, Kaley Markey and Lucy Topp were crucial on offence and put up a majority of points while also carrying the board stats.
A phenomenal point guard, Natalier backed up her 40-point semi-final performance with 27 points, closing her competition tab with an average of 33.5.
Topp sank a game-changing triple from the corner with 6:30 to play, which gave the Mountaineers a chance momentum swing.
It was ultimately put to a halt by Thunder’s 16-5 run to the finish line.
Niyonizeye and Cleo Ape finished with 13 and 15 respectively.
Meanwhile: The Rockhampton Cyclones overcame the Mackay Meteorettes 62-53 for a bronze medal, Khijra Heward putting up a game-high 24 points despite the loss while Lily Thomasson scored 21 for Rocky.
12:30pm - Boys division 2
The boys division 2 gold medal clash between Sunshine Coast Phoenix and Brisbane Capitals was physical and low-scoring; Capitals able to fend off a late comeback to win 69-66.
A combination of pressure and tight defence no doubt made this stage more difficult than the previous four days of competition.
It was a different story entirely to the last time these sides had met: round four in the pool games where Phoenix walked away with a 27-point win.
Brisbane’s Jdae Fletcher had recorded a whopping 30 points per game average heading into the grand final including a 30-piece in the semi with five from deep.
He was kept to a much lower 14 points with none coming from behind the arc.
The scoring was instead shared between himself, Thomas Gehrke (15) and David Laniya (11)
Capitals defensive pressure shone particularly in the third quarter, forcing five zero-point possessions in-a-row for Phoenix.
The final quarter opened with Brisbane boasting just a nine point lead of 53-42, and with a point to prove, Phoenix looked a dangerous chance of fighting back.
With three minutes on the clock, the margin had been closed to just one point.
Patrick Ford and Ryder McCormack were instrumental to offensive efforts with 19 points a piece to accompany 14 at the hands of Josh Bartlett.
Though it was too little too late.
With 1.2 seconds remaining, Brisbane held onto their possession, drew the foul and sealed gold.
Meanwhile: The bronze medal playoff featured Gold Coast Rollers defeating the Rockhampton Rockets 66-51, Levi Cauiane putting up a team-high 13 points including three triples while Rockets’ Lachlan Scott contributed 15 for the runners-up.
Top players
Boys DIV 1
North Gold Coast Seahawks 1
Lachlan Halloran (37)
A smart guard who can facilitate his big men as much as he can polish off a shot himself. Will take a dime over the points if it isn’t on, adding to his player value on offence. Being left-handed accompanies his skillset and is difficult - unorthodox - to defend against.
Mitchell Chen (3)
A South Coast School Sport representative and long-time valued player at the Seahawks, Chen uses his size in the paint to execute easy buckets and keep the scoreboard ticking. He’s athletic enough to bring the ball down himself for a quick offensive possession.
Luciano Hutchins (40)
Hutchins makes the most of his nimble but strong build at a typical guard height. He rebounds well and boasts big hops from static. The King’s Christian College student also offers great lockdown defence, particularly around the perimeter.
South West Metro Pirates Purple
Hayden Talbot (3)
A high-energy, high-impact player who can shoot the ball well from range. He is constantly a team top-scorer in division 1 for Pirates and doesn’t shy away from a one-on-one contest at the hoop.
Zaiden Montanez (13)
Montanez is an imposing and athletic big man who can stretch the floor and is a trusted shooter. He boasts a high percentage under fatigue from the stripe and is mobile on defence.
Townsville Heat
Marley Solomona (8)
A no-nonsense guard with strong defensive capabilities and a hot hand from range. Solomona can be trusted with the ball behind the arc and will execute in clutch moments.
Noah Andersen (6)
Townsville’s go-to man for shooting, Anderson starred from the get-go. He top scored in both day one games including 29 and 21 point stat sheets respectively, giving away just a single foul. The hard-working guard gets to work quickly and doesn’t cool down until the final buzzer.
Southern Districts Spartans
Lennon Bann (24)
Your typical tall, strong-bodied big man who can polish off points in the paint. Bann owns his space under the post and is a reliable option. He isn’t afraid to take a long range shot if open, but values moving the ball over taking low-percentage shots.
Samuel Mcdowell-White (7)
The brother of former NBL player Will Mcdowell-White and current development player Kobe (Illawarra Hawks), this sharp-shooting guard has shown his range. He plays limited minutes in comparison to some peers, but makes the most of it with looks at the rim.
Noah Kirk (25)
A tenacious and fierce player who proved himself under pressure on day two especially. Kirk iced back-to-back layups and completed a clutch three-point point play to close Spartans’ deficit from nine to four in the closing quarter against Townsville Heat. He kept a cool head and was smart in his decisions to keep the game alive. Kirk ended the game with 23 points including 10 from 16 at the line in his side’s miraculous 85-87 win after trailing by 20 post-three-quarter time.
Boys DIV 2
Gold Coast Waves
Alexander Walker (12)
Walker stunned with new skills all tournament, boasting an array of spins and post work down low and contributing to the Waves’ offensive ball movement to create good shot options. The agile guard put up an average 18.5 points on day one including three triples in round two.
Levi Cauiane (15)
This guard offers elite handles and ball movement outside to set up an effective offence and make the most of each possession. Cauiane defends with energy, locking in on his player and avoiding getting caught on the screen. He has a wicked passing game which compliments his playmaking style.
South West Metro Pirates Red
Tyreese Siania (2)
A tall, long-limbed big man who boasts surprising mobility under the post. Sinai is a facilitator as much as he is a shot-taker and has the expected rim protection skills of a player his size.
Andreas Christensen (54)
He is a game smart and athletic forward whose basketball IQ has helped elevate his game of recent. Christensen posted an impressive 19 points including nine from the field in round two.
Brisbane Capitals Silver
David Laniya (12)
As the starting big man, Laniya averaged 16 points after three games despite being scoreless in round two. He put up 21 and 27 in his other two appearances to assert himself in the lineup and as an imposing post presence for any opposition.
Brayden Gentner (9)
The agile guard plays a crucial role coming off the bench for Capitals. He was one of their most consistent scorers with 13, 16 and 11 in the first two days of pool games including two triples in the first and third.
Jdae Fletcher (7)
A prolific defender who is locked in at all times, affording him sneaky steals and the occasional open lane for easy points. Fletcher can back-up his defensive skills with a quality shooting game.
Thomas Gehrke (13)
A starring forward/ centre who can stretch the floor thanks to his sheer athleticism. Gehrke stood out in round two especially, putting up a 28-piece performance where all bar two points came from the field plus 100% free throw shooting. Miraculously, the big man only gave out one foul in the contest.
Sunshine Coast Phoenix Teal
Patrick Ford (40)
Ford opened his tournament account with five in round one before shooting the lights out in the remaining pool clashes. He stunned crowds with 24 points against Gold Coast which included a Chris Goulding-like six triples. He then followed that with 14 - with four threes - against Rockhampton.
Ryder McCormack (16)
This versatile point-forward recorded team high numbers on two occasions by day three and averaged a whopping 23.7 points by round four. He sank 11 from the field as part of a 28-piece performance against Gold Coast followed by a 30-point game against Rockhampton that same afternoon. McCormack combines speed and size for the perfect display of talent.
Mason Moosaye (10)
A keen shooter, a vast majority of Moosaye’s points come from deep. He drained seven threes across the first two days of pool rounds with just three other points coming from a field goal and one free throw. Talk about long range specialty.
Josh Bartlett (6)
Playing a classic guard-style game, Bartlett runs off the point with patience and smarts. He doesn’t shy away from the chance to drive to the basket and is crafty with his finish against imposing defence.
Girls DIV 1
Southern Districts Spartans
Mya Moke (5)
Basketball is in her blood, being the daughter of Townsville Fire WNBL star Naomi Moke. Moke is not yet 16 but plays like a veteran in a comp several years her senior. The 15-year-old boasts a court resume inclusive of both basketball and netball, which is evident in her athleticism and vast skill set. Moke opened her tab in round one with 27 points - a team high - including two threes. She drained four triples the next round and averaged 17.8 by day three.
Gia Vukona (7)
Tasked with a majority of ball handling, Vukona proved herself a valuable asset at both ends of the court. She was the only division 1 girls Spartan to record double-digit point tallies in four consecutive pool games this tournament.
Gold Coast Rollers
Tess Walker (20)
A confident guard who will shoot from downtown without hesitation. Walker claimed all of her day one points from behind the arc and continued in top form during Rollers’ tight round three clash - sinking back-to-back triple in the final quarter to nudge a lead.
Karma Dantzler (1)
Big keyway presence who values ball movement and is big on assists. She doesn’t take a huge number of shots per game, but capitalises on the ones she does with a high percentage. Has a unique calmness about her.
Charlize Brown (12)
Another valuable big for Gold Coast, Brown top scored for the side in both day one games with 10 and eight respectively almost entirely from the field. She’s reliable on defence and uses her long limbs and mobility to its advantage.
Brisbane Capitals Gold
Samantha Melksham (14)
Foul trouble is the price Melksham pays for being at the centre of every play. She’s a wall on defence; aggressive and engaged, but her offence is where she stands above the pack. A ‘quiet’ round one appearance 13 points - six of which from behind the arc - before a 27-point blitz in round two. The star eclipsed 18 fouls by day 3, but her efforts under the post did the balancing.
Jovana Ilic (12)
Owning the posting role alongside Melksham, Ilic is another strong offensive presence under the basket for Capitals. She’s got crafty footwork reminiscent of your typical elite court sport talents and speed that sets her apart.
Sunshine Coast Phoenix Teal
Chelsea Juan (26)
Juan top scored for her side in round one with a stellar 35-point performance in their eight-point win. She drives into the lane with purpose and confidence even on a mismatch and is equally dangerous from deep. In the round one game, Juan drained four triples before fouling out.
Maya Winiata (7)
She’s tall and athletic - the perfect combination for a versatile point-forward. Winiata started with a bang on day one, dropping 22 points which included seven free throws and seven from the field (one triple). Her ability to read of the play is rewarded with steals to go along with her high rebounding numbers.
Northside Wizards 1
Giaan Leed (32)
A talented and versatile athlete who’s attitude on court reflects her output. She puts good numbers up consistently and is capable of stretching the floor nicely - quick on transition and strong under the basket.
Mackay Meteorettes
Cheyanne Bobongie (9)
While her older sister Monique enjoys a maiden season of WNBL with the UC Capitols, Bobongie is quickly cementing herself as Mackay’s next top prospect of young ballers in Queensland and Australia. The teen is quick, smart and clean. She got off to a stellar start with 19 points in round one before downing 23 against Logan Thunder in round three. On defence, Bobongie committed just three fouls in the pool games - compared to sinking eight triples.
Isabel Smith (8)
A fellow Queensland representative to Bobongie and Australian team member, Smith is the make-up of an elite guard with a bright future in basketball. She turned 16 on day of the tournament and celebrated with 21 points in round two. The relatively tall back court star scored a game-high 27 in round three. She was the only division 1 female to record three consecutive 20-point+ pool games including 12 from the stripe
Girls DIV 2
Ipswich Force
Jemyma Manyok (12)
A pure talent whose height only draws more attention to her skillset. Manyok is a force to be reckoned with under the basket, able to rip in rebounds from the crowd and quickly transition into offence. While many her height might be hindered in speed, this towering star isn’t held back. She dropped 13 points in the tournament’s opener followed by 20 in round two.
Shanekah White
White proved herself a scoring machine from first jump, sinking seven from the field and two at the stripe before succumbing to foul trouble in game one. She backed up that performance with another dazzling display in round two of 17 points.
Lucy Low (23)
Low was one of three Ipswich players to post double-digit points in both day one games. She is a hard working guard with good handles and a quality passing game.
Rockhampton Cyclones
Bre Walsh
This talented guard is hard to stop. She is dangerous from close and mid range - accurate and tricky - but will also make you pay if sent to the stripe for two. Walsh drowned 16 free throws in her first two games, but it seems her defenders didn’t learn. Her ability to draw fouls and execute rolled into day two.
Chanelle Apiata (9)
Apiata was quick to impress with 15 points in game one and 11 in game two. Like any good guard, she’s a communicator on court and can back up her offensive efforts with strong defence.
Townsville Lightning
Kelsey Cox (8)
A hard working combo guard who isn’t afraid to take the difficult shots. Cox covers off all the basics and averaged 14 points after round three. She is confident individually while also a selfless team player.
Logan Thunder
Esita Niyonizeye (13)
A pocket rocket guard you can’t afford to leave open. She’ll sink a shot from anywhere on the court and equally values shared possession for the best look. Niyonizeye dropped a casual 19 points in Thunder’s opening round including two triples before backing up with a 14-point performance in round two.
Milia Banjac (12)
A crafty guard with spectacular handles and the sought after ability to know her teammates’ whereabouts at all times. Banjac finds herself a high-scorer on most occasions, not afraid to drive to the basket or pull up for a mid-range look. She posted 12 and six point games on day one followed by 12 points to open day two.
Girls DIV 3-4
South West Metro Pirates Purple
Eliza Aguilar (25)
A tough player who finds herself on the stat card across all areas: from points on offence to key defensive steals. She’s a clever player and can stretch the floor. Offers mobile post work for easy buckets.
Maryborough Magic
Rehanna Fisher (4)
Quite possibly unstoppable, fisher opened her account on day one with a whopping 56-piece. She stunned with eight at stripe and 22 from the field including four from deep. If that stat alone wasn’t enough, she was one of just four players to score that game, the next highest claiming nine points. Fisher continued her form into day two, draining 33 points in Magic’s win with nine of those coming from behind the arc.
South West Metro Pirates Red
Miah Hsueh (11)
Unassuming. Dangerous. This little guard gets the job done and completes her role in the team as instructed. She’s got a strong passing game and moves the ball well to ensure Pirates get the best look for a shot.
Scarlet Stuart (3)
Stuart was the only teammember to reach double-digit points in both day one matches, putting up 12 and 10 respectively. She plays big minutes but is consistent under fatigue and gives 100% at all times. It’s what makes her a valuable asset.
Bundaberg Bears
Bella Dickson (8)
A tall yet mobile player who leads her team in both points and rebounds. She’s physical - which sometimes costs her fouls - but cements her as a threat on court. Offers good talk with teammates; a skill often overlooked in this age group.
Hailey Horchner (2)
A sharp-shooter at the stripe, if you foul her she’ll make you pay. Horchner is small, but incredibly quick and nimble - able to weave her way through traffic and turn her size into a strength. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating her value.
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Think we missed one? Leave a comment or email us with the athlete’s name, team and standout stats!
Originally published as Top players on display at Basketball QLD U18 Club State Championships as Mackay, Spartans claim division 1 gold
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