Basketballs and sneakers have been placed outside peoples' doors in a tribute to a nine-year-old Perth boy who died suddenly on Saturday after he collapsed during a basketball game.
Lakeside Lightning basketball club released a statement confirming the boy's tragic death which occurred while he was participating in the under 11s state championships at Warwick Stadium.
![Two of the social media posts paying tribute to the nine-year-old boy who died during a basketball game on Saturday.](/web/20161204181025im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/3/k/a/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt3kis.png/1480821057908.jpg)
Family and friends rushed to revive him until an ambulance arrived and transferred the boy to Joondalup Hospital where he later died.
"He collapsed when leaving the court at a break in the game and despite medical treatment at the court and then being transferred by ambulance to hospital he passed away," the statement read.
"This is obviously a tragic event that has shaken our entire community and even the wider basketball community in general.
"We are all devastated right now and can only imagine what the family are going through at this moment."
Mourners have begun posting photographs to social media placing their basketballs and sneakers in a tribute to the boy.
One woman wrote alongside her photo, "No words, RIP beautiful boy – stay strong basketball family", while another captioned their photograph, "In respect of the family and the young boy who tragically lost his life yesterday at the basketball carnival Kaiden was about to play in. So tragically sad".
![The WA basketball community is mourning the loss of a nine-year-old boy.](/web/20161204181025im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/3/k/k/s/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gt3kis.png/1480821057908.jpg)
The tributes hark back to when cricket fans across Australia put their bats outside their front doors in a show of respect for cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died after he was struck by a ball while batting at Sydney Cricket Ground in 2014.
Basketball games at Warwick Stadium for the remainder of Saturday were suspended and some teams have chosen not to participate in matches scheduled for Sunday.
Basketball WA said in a statement it supported teams who selected not to play.
"With the strong support of the Lakeside Basketball Club, week two of the Smarter than Smoking BWA State Championships will continue Sunday 4 [December] as fixtured at both Bendat Basketball Centre and Warwick Stadium," the statement read.
"A number of teams will not participate during Sunday's games and Basketball WA fully respect their decision, teams are urged to contact their administrators if this is the case."
A coronial inquest will be carried out to determine how the boy died.