North Spotlight | Papacostas seals road win for Caps

Featured image: @taylorearnshaw.photog

Jarred Bairstow had another huge performance and Geordan Papacostas closed the door on the Rockhampton Rockets for the Brisbane Capitals to bounce back from the previous night for the 85-79 NBL1 North road win.

Rockhampton lost their opening two games away to Mackay and at home to Southern Districts but then on Sunday at Bravus Arena it was their first appearance this season since all the way back on April 24.

Brisbane, meanwhile, were already playing a sixth match in 2026 and were looking to bounce back from a tough loss the night before in Mackay to the Meteors.

All throughout the afternoon the Capitals threatened to pull away from the Rockets and eventually they did when Papacostas hit the game's last five points to turn a one-point lead into the six-point victory.

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The Capitals will now head home having split their weekend double at 4-2 with Jarred Bairstow outstanding once again delivering 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists with 10/18 field goal shooting.

He had plenty of help too with Geordan Papacostas ending up with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists including those crucial last five points to seal the victory.

Brendan Teys also had another 13 points and three rebounds, Anthony Kopcikas seven points and three assists, Ben Volkman six points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Kai Woodfall five points, four assists and three boards.

Given how long it had been since Rockhampton last played, it was a lot about shaking off the cobwebs and really just like a season-opening contest for them.

There were some encouraging signs too for coach Neal Tweedy including from son Jack who delivered 16 points, seven assists and three rebounds.

Isaac Ayoubi also contributed 13 points and three rebounds for the Rockets, Junior Madut 13 points, seven boards and three assists, Jalen Graham 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, and Keahn Tuakura 12 points and seven boards.

The Rockets were playing their first game since April 24 with Brisbane trying to bounce back from a loss in Mackay the night before, and it was the Caps starting the better with 21 points to 16 in the first quarter.

That was on the back of shooting 45 per cent from the field to 30 from the Rockets.

The lead for the Capitals did stretch to nine in the second period but Rockhampton were able to stay in touch and by half-time the Brisbane lead was just 46-41.

Jarred Bairstow was already having another monster game for Brisbane with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists but Rockhampton got to the free-throw line 18 times and Jack Tweedy had 12 points by half-time.

The trend continued in the third quarter with Brisbane going up 12 but the Rockets responded to limit the deficit to seven at three quarter-time despite another four points, four rebounds and two assists for the Capitals from Bairstow.

The game remained tight until a huge three from Geordan Papacostas with a minute remaining. That was his first triple of the game and pushed the Caps out to a four-point lead and his free throws shortly after sealed the six-point road victory.

Rockhampton remain at home against the Mackay Meteors next Saturday while the Capitals remain on the road against the Ipswich Force also on Saturday night.

NBL1 NORTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 4

ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS 79 (Tweedy 16, Ayoubi 13, Madut 13)

BRISBANE CAPITALS 85 (Bairstow 22, Papacostas 14, Teys 13)