The opening game of the Mini Hoopers League saw Rising Stars secure a convincing 55–36 victory over Rex Rabbit, in a match that quickly lost suspense due to the absence of Rex Rabbit’s No.1 draft pick, Li Li’ang.
Rising Stars took control early in the game, with Wang Xuanrui setting the tone with an outstanding start, while Jia Haozhen contributed with strong inside and outside scoring. The team displayed excellent ball movement and multiple scoring options. Meanwhile, Zhang Zixuan’s relentless offensive rebounding created several second-chance opportunities, helping Rising Stars build a commanding 32–16 lead by halftime.
On the other side, Rex Rabbit struggled without their key scorer. Despite Zhang Haoran’s impressive coast-to-coast drives and layups, the team found it difficult to close the gap and remained under pressure throughout the first half.
In the third quarter, Liu Yilei stepped up and took control of the game, delivering an explosive performance off the bench with 14 points. Liu Anzhi also contributed with a brilliant assist, further strengthening Rising Stars’ momentum.
Rex Rabbit showed signs of recovery in the fourth quarter, improving their offensive efficiency. Zhang Haoran connected well with Shi Xinyi for multiple assisted scores, while Song Yichen delivered key defensive blocks, helping the team produce a 14–7 run to slightly reduce the deficit.
However, the earlier gap proved too large, and Rising Stars maintained control to secure the win.
Overall, Rising Stars demonstrated stronger team chemistry and execution, effectively following Coach Nico’s tactical approach. Their unselfish ball movement, fast transitions, and balanced scoring made them difficult to defend. In contrast, Rex Rabbit’s lack of a secondary ball handler became evident, leading to frequent turnovers under full-court pressure.
Player Highlights
- Zhang Haoran (Rex Rabbit): 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists (7 turnovers)
- Jia Haozhen (Rising Stars): 19 points in just 17 minutes, +27 efficiency
Injury Report
- Rex Rabbit: Li Li’ang (Absent – Fever)
- Rising Stars: None
