Tesch and team beaten in final

Australian women's wheelchair basketball captain Liesl Tesch of Woy Woy and her team the Gliders have been defeated in the final of the Osaka Cup in Japan.

The Gliders entered the grand final of the tournament as favourites only to be defeated 52-40 by the United States.

Despite progressing to the final as the only undefeated team at the tournament the Gliders missed out on a golden opportunity to complete the winning run.

Head coach Mr Gerry Hewson was still upbeat despite the loss.

"We have had a great week in Osaka and now have another four international games under our belt, which will help us develop into the team we want to be by September for the Paralympics," Mr Hewson said.

Local sports star Liesl Tesch managed to score a total of 34 points for her team during the entire tournament in Japan.

"Ms Tesch has been an inspiration in basketball for over 10 years, after winning selection in Australia's first international women's wheelchair basketball team in 1993," Parramatta Basketball Association media officer Mr Noel Roswell said.

"Despite the routine challenges of a career as a school teacher and travelling to exotic foreign locations teaching wheelchair basketball, Liesl has remained focused on playing for Australia and is the only player from the 1993 campaign still competing on the international stage."

Press release, 17 Feb 2008 Noel Rowsell, Paramatta Basketball Association