SBL stars take it up to Chinese national team
Several men's State Basketball League players took part in a practice match against the Chinese national team late last week and nearly shocked the visitors, eventually going down 73-66.
In preparation for their two-match YouYi Games series against Australia over the weekend, which the Boomers won both games of, China requested a closed practice match against a team comprised of Lakeside Lightning's league leading team and several other SBL stars.
And the locals, who featured Perry Lakes duo Anthony Lee and Ben Purser, Goldfields sharp-shooter Matthew Rosinski, Mandurah star Ben Smith, Willetton forward Rob Kampman and Wanneroo import John Vaudreuil, on top of Lakeside's star-studded team, gave China a major scare.
The combined side had just 30 minutes to prepare with Lakeside coach Andy Stewart, but comfortably led in the first quarter and were in front for most of the match.
But in the end the experience of the world's 10th-ranked international side proved too much, with China running out seven-point winners.
Lee and Lakeside forward Luke Payne were among the offensive leaders for the WA team, while Jarrad Prue continued his dominant form on the boards with another exceptional display, even against China's former NBA big man Wang Zhizhi.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Russel Wong
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