Cheers from Katie Rae Ebzery’s home support as Opals make quarterfinals

BRAZIL’S home crowd might be vocal, but Olympic basketballer Katie Rae Ebzery’s family — and her dog Tinkerbell — are cheering just as loudly from Australia.

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BRAZIL’S home crowd might be vocal, but Katie Rae Ebzery’s family — and her dog Tinkerbell — are cheering just as loudly from Australia.

The Earlwood-based basketballer played a pivotal role in the Opals’ win on Saturday, beating Belarus 74-66 for a place in the quarterfinals.

Australian Olympic basketballer Katie Rae Ebzery's parents Robert and Helen, sister Alison, and dog Tinkerbell cheer from their home in Newcastle. Picture: Peter Lorimer

The Aussies will play Serbia on Wednesday, 11am AEST time.

Katie Rae’s mum, Helen Crooks, said they have been watching every nailbiting game from their living room in Newcastle.

“It’s sort of bittersweet.” Mrs Crooks said.

“It would be nice to be over there [in Rio] ... but it would be stressful, so in some ways it’s better to be away from it.”

Australia’s Katie Rae Ebzery drives into Japan’s Ramu Tokashiki of Japan during on day six of the Rio Olympics. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

A downside of not being in Rio, however, has been the television coverage, which Mrs Crooks said could be “frustrating”.

“Halfway through the live game they switched to a medal ceremony ...” she said.

Basketball is big in the Ebzery household, and Katie Rae said she “grew up watching mum play”.

Tinkerbell gets into the spirit of the game with Katie Rae’s dad Robert. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Ms Crooks played for the semi-professional South East Australian Basketball League and her youngest daughter Alison just played in the state final for the Newcastle Hunters on the weekend.

“Everything Katie Rae’s accomplished has been through her own hard work,” Ms Crooks said.

“But I don’t think it will really sink in until she’s home and has time to think, ‘gosh I’ve been to the Olympics.’ ”

Parents Robert and Helen and sister Alsion, 19, watch the game with the family dog Tinkerbell. Picture: Peter Lorimer

The Opals’ finished the group stage of Rio unbeaten, despite a few close games.

In their fourth match, the Aussie team came back from a 16-point deficit against Japan.

In a similar fashion, the Opals beat Belarus after trailing by 13 points in the third term.