West Adelaide basketballer Blake Truslove plays 250th

TRY talking to West Adelaide basketball veteran Blake Truslove about his 250-game milestone and he brings up the championship missing from his resume.

West Adelaide basketball veteran Blake Truslove, who recently played his 250th game for the club, pictured with children Carter, Spencer and Chelsea. Picture: Tom Huntley

TRY talking to West Adelaide basketball veteran Blake Truslove about his 250-game milestone and he brings up a sore point missing from his resume.

“I’m more concerned about the championship,” Truslove says.

Truslove, 35, chalked up his 250th game for the Bearcats last month, marking another landmark in a career that includes five seasons in the NBL for Adelaide, Canberra and New Zealand, and making the state league’s All-Star Five on five occasions.

But since joining West in 1999, the 204cm centre has yet to win a title, despite playing in four grand finals, including the past two seasons.

“It’s a little bit frustrating,” Truslove said.

“I try not to think about them (losing grand finals) too much.

“We’re just tripping over at the final hurdle but I’m running out of time.”

Truslove joined the Bearcats at 19 after moving to Adelaide from Darwin via Cairns.

These days Truslove’s children Carter, 8, and Chelsea, 6, play juniors for the Port Adelaide-based Bearcats.

“I love the proud history of the place and the people involved with it,” says Truslove, who coaches West’s under-10 boys.

“I’ve seen a few groups of players come through and now I’m seeing their kids playing.”

A thirst for competition keeps Truslove coming back each season and he says he will keep playing “while the coach still wants me to”.

“I like going out there each week and just competing.

“I’m still starting, we’re still winning and I’m still enjoying it.”

West is again looming as a title challenger this season, sitting second on the ladder with a 3-1 record.

“We’ll be around the mark, it’s just a matter of hitting our straps when we do.”