These basketballers aren’t professionals, but they’ve probably got more heart than any team you’ll see on TV.
The BIZLINK Flames All Abilities Basketball team plays on Tuesday nights at the Mike Barnett Sports Complex in Rockingham.
There’s zippy little Paris Oldfield, the tiny firecracker who bursts through the pack to pinch the ball and score.
Anne-Marie Foster is a veteran who is always pushing her teammates to get in there and have a go.
Brayden Read is all personality and with his tattoos and natural affinity with the camera, you could say he’s the team’s Shaq.
John Waters is a calming presence on the team, the yin to Read’s yang.
This was just a handful of players The Sound was lucky enough to meet on Tuesday night, but everyone who showed up brought something special to the team.
The all-abilities program enables players with a physical or intellectual disability to play basketball.
Anne-Marie’s dad John Foster started the team in 2012 and it has gone from strength to strength since then.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was nine years old,” Anne-Marie said.
“I like giving people a chance to shoot, not just my team, but the opposition as well”.
She has represented WA in the basketball and took home a bronze medal.
Bizlink’s Steph Fielding, who is a supporter of the team, said Anne-Marie was a real team player, “which is great for the game, because then everyone enjoys it”.
Steph said they usually get about 25 players on an average Tuesday, with ages ranging from late teens onwards.
Brayden said he’s been playing for five years now and his favourite team is the Wildcats.
David Clarendon, who also has a disability, took over coaching from Anne-Marie’s dad John.
He said the aim was to give everyone a go and make sure that the newbies get a shot at scoring.
On Tuesday night, the atmosphere was jubilant and the sidelines were packed with supporters cheering on their favourite players.
The final score wasn’t as important as the players having fun and sharpening their skills.
On August 23, the Flames will compete in the Basketball WA Everyone’s Game carnival which sees teams from all around WA take part.
Anyone who wants to keep up with the Flames or take part should head to Facebook.
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