A well-versed Brisbane Lady Spartans outfit won by 25 points in the South East Australian Basketball League on Saturday night.

The Lady Spartans were stocked with decorated Women’s National Basketball League athletes, including Australian Opal Emma McDonald, New Zealand international Nat Taylor and the evergreen Peta Sinclair, who flew in for the game that morning from week-long coaching duties for the under-18 nationals in Ballarat.

Sinclair and McDonald started on the bench for the reigning SEABL women’s all-conference champions.

Harvey Norman Rush, missing co-captain Kristy Rinaldi, was far younger and raw. Rush youth league players Ryleigh Haire and Claire Constable each got about four minutes off the bench.

But Rush players should take a lot away from this match – the Lady Spartans effectively set the season benchmark.

There were only seven points the difference at half-time.

Rush coach Peter Cunningham said his team forced the Lady Spartans to change their game and showed lots of promise.

“We were just a young side playing against adults who have more experience and better decision-making at this level,” Cunningham said.

“That’s where we are at the moment and our players can only learn more from being out there in the game. We made a few mistakes but we made some good plays too.”

Bronte Clark, running point, notched up a solid 29 minutes without turnovers. 

Youngster Kasey Burton made 12 points with almost 30 minutes’ play while Molly Mathews and Sophie Alexander, returning from shoulder injury, continued to build good court time.

Cunningham said Mathews adjusted to the increased game tempo and intensity and knowing exactly what she had to do.

Shanae Greaves was the Rush standout with 20 points, nine rebounds and Olivia Thompson played well against her former team with 13 points, nine rebounds.

Rush was clearly beaten on its offensive rebound but it was the Lady Spartans’ 22 assists, 12 three-pointers and 15 from 20 shots at the free throw line that hurt Rush most.