WAIS Wheelchair Basketball Athletes Gain Gold

Published On: 20 October 2009

Justin Eveson was again in top form

The WAIS wheelchair basketball quartet of Justin Eveson, Shaun Norris, Brad Ness and Michael Hartnett has won gold after defeating Japan in the final of the Asian Oceania wheelchair basketball Championships in Dandenong over the weekend.

The four WAIS IASP athletes have dominated all-comers in recent times with the latest success adding to Paralympic and World Championship gold for Australia and a fourth straight national title with the Perth Wheelcats.

Australia defeated Japan 68-51 in the final to finish the seven match campaign undefeated, with all four WAIS athletes prominent throughout.

Eveson was the chief destroyer in the final against Japan, with a game high 25 points supported by 13 rebounds and five assists. Eveson was dominant and justified his reputation as one the world’s very best wheelchair basketball athletes.

Fellow Paralympians Shaun Norris (19 points, seven rebounds, two assists) and Brad Ness (nine points, 10 rebounds) provided invaluable support while Reo Fujimoto led Japan with 17 points in a gutsy display that prevented Australia from an onslaught.

The Australian Rollers led 18-8 at the first break and would not relinquish their strangle hold, despite a spirited performance from the opposition throughout.


As a result of their 68-51 win, the Rollers have now qualified for next year’s IWBF World Championship in Birmingham, England.

In other wheelchair basketball news, WAIS scholarship holder Clare Burzynski was a member of the Australian Gliders team that defeated Japan 3-1 in a four game series.