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As the London 2012 Paralympic Games approach, Be Active Perth Wheelcats Players Shaun Norris, Adam Deans and Kim Robins are using the 2012 National Wheelchair Basketball League as the perfect preparation to press their claims for a place in the Australian Wheelchair Basketball team.

Shaun tasted success with the Rollers in 2008 bringing home a Gold Medal from Beijing and is confident of Australia’s ability to defend their place as the number one ranked team in the world.

"I mean its tournament basketball and anything can happen, but you can only control what you do and we will be as prepared as we possibly can by the time that first game tips off" said Shaun Norris.

“The next six months for me are all about preparing my body for London and hopefully win another Championship with the Be Active Perth Wheelcats”

The Be Active Perth Wheelcats have sent a message to the rest of Australia this weekend by taking top spot on the National Wheelchair Basketball League Ladder after beating 2011 Champions the Wollongong Rollerhawks.

Based out of the Herb Graham Recreation Centre, the Wheelcats are the most successful team to ever play in the National Wheelchair Basketball League winning seven championships since 2002. In 2011 the Wollongong Rollerhawks broke the Wheelcats winning streak, beating the Perth team in the final to claim their first national title.

Without the services of Paralympians Justin Eveson, Brad Ness, Michael Hartnett and Clare Burzynski in 2012, the odds were stacked against the Wheelcats as Wollongong added three national players to their roster in the off season.

The 14 point win over the Wollongong team, to go along with 24 point win over Sydney and 32 point win over Dandenong is testament to the development work that goes on at Wheelchair Sports WA, headed up by Head Coach Kelvin Browner and Junior Coach Craig Bartlett.

‘The most impressive thing from the weekend’s results was the ability for us to be able to spread the load amongst the entire playing squad’ said coach Browner.

The Be Active Perth Wheelcats open their home account on April 21^st. To find out when you can come and see the Be Active Perth Wheelcats in action, checkout www.wheelchairsportswa.org.au.

 -ENDS-

*Photo courtesy of Emily Dimozantos Life in Motion

For further information, please contact:

Joel Mackenzie – Wheelchair Sports WA
Telephone: 0423 111 212 or 9440 4245  
Email: joel@wheelchairsportswa.org.au