ALTHOUGH his Rockhampton Rockets could not claim the win in the National Basketball League (NBL)1 North Men’s on the weekend, the continued development of young point guard Ben Tweedy was a massive positive.

Tweedy is one of the most exciting prospects in the league, and coming into the 2024 season, the Rockets were hoping he would continue his progression into the floor general of the team for the future.

In Round 2 of the 2024 season, Rockhampton came up against the Brisbane Capitals at Bravus Arena on Saturday night. In a tense clash that looked like it was heading to extra time after four quarters of play, Brisbane snuck away with a thrilling two-point win, after Sam McDaniel knocked down a buzzer-beating mid-range to give his side the win.

Despite the match ending in heartbreak, Tweedy was a shining light for the home side, leading the way with some excellent work on the offensive end.

Rockhampton Rockets (91) def. by Brisbane Capitals (93)

Ben Tweedy – 17 points, two rebounds, 17 assists, one steal

Entrusted with the role of primary ball handler for the Rockets, Tweedy did not disappoint, almost getting Rockhampton to victory with his ability to create for himself and others.

Although not the most efficient scoring game he has produced, Tweedy still got himself to 17 points with plenty of important makes throughout the match. He had six makes on 17 attempts, finding no luck from behind the arc but getting to work from two-point range with some crafty floaters and aggressive drives.

However, the most impressive facet of his game was his playmaking, with Tweedy finding his wide open teammates more times than the defence could handle. Running pick and rolls to perfection, the likes of Nighael Caesar (31 points) and Xavier Ford (22 points) benefited from his spacing.

Well-renowned for his high IQ with ball in hand, and 17 dimes is a reflection of how well he sees the play. The guard has great size for his position, standing six-foot-four but as a point guard, his height allows him to see the floor better than his peers.

Regardless of the loss, Tweedy’s performance was a clear demonstration of his ability to lead a team, and more outings of this calibre should be on the way.