WILLIAM Lawrie has only been playing domestic basketball for three or four years but in that time it's become a central part of his life.
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"It's probably four or five days a week (I train and play)," he said.
"Basketball has always been something I gravitate to. It's just been my sport I guess."
Lawrie relishes those first few moments at the start of a game, when he first runs out onto the court and the anticipation is high.
"When we first get out there it's that boost of adrenaline," he said.
"That's probably my favourite moment."
Lawrie has played all three matches with the Redbacks so far this season - most recently helping defeat Stawell - and also plays in Ballarat Victorian Junior Basketball League squad, and the Ballarat Celtic Tigers' domestic competition.
The schedule of playing and training nearly everyday has helped Lawrie's on court performance, but there are a couple of other things that he needs to make sure are in place before he can perform his best.
"My socks have to be the same height and my laces have to be the same tightness," he said.
This season he has also been charged with caring for the CBL mascot, Bella the Barbie Doll.
"Bella is the CBL team mascot," Lawrie said.
"I have to take her to every place I go with the Ararat Redbacks CBL. Last season or the season before we started doing this rookie trend where they get a Barbie Doll bag, and this season (Redbacks coach) Marcus (Jenkins) has brought in the team mascot, which is a Barbie Doll.
"We did her a new uniform and everything, so it's actually got a Redbacks uniform on it. My mum can sew so we got her to do that."
Barbie Dolls aside, Lawrie said he's working so hard because he had some pretty serious ambitions.
"What I'm aiming for - I'm not sure if I'll get there or not - but hopefully is to play NBL," he said.
"That's probably the highest aim. I mean I'd love to play NBA but NBL is probably a more realistic aim."
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