On a humid September night in Qingyuan, a remote hill county in southwestern Zhejiang province with about 140,000 residents, the local sports center was transformed into a cauldron of noise and light.

The occasion was a ZheBA city clash between underdog Qingyuan and provincial capital Hangzhou, a metropolis of more than 10 million people. Inside the stadium, nearly 10,000 fans erupted in thunderous unison, rattling the steel roof. Beyond the arena, the tournament's impact pulsed through the town, filling cash registers and drawing the community closer together.

Basketball fever

The tournament's influence stretched well past the court, energizing commerce and culture. Streets, shops and markets thrived in a way locals had never seen.

"Orders have been cascading like snowflakes," said Wang Jinyong, owner of a rice cake shop near the arena. "I simply can't keep up. On game days, fans from Hangzhou line up before the shop even opens. Zhe-BA has put our county in the spotlight and carried our delicacies far beyond the hills."

His family's black rice cakes, once a local treat, now sell out within hours. Similarly, Fan Huafei, who runs an online mushroom store, said sales jumped nearly 30 percent. "Spectators taste our mushrooms courtside, then order online to share with friends and family. The tournament has given our produce wings."

As night fell, barbecue stalls like Yao Ya's became gathering points. "Every evening is a full house," Yao said, flipping skewers over on smoky grills as laughter and chatter filled the streets.

Tourism is also surging. Visitors camped in Lingtou village, blending outdoor leisure with basketball fever. "ZheBA has put this region on the map," said Yuan Ke, executive director of the Zhejiang RV and Camping Association.

Mushroom warriors

The county, known as China's mushroom capital, embraced the nickname "Mushroom Warriors" for its team. With the arena packed, hundreds of fans gathered in the central square to watch on a giant screen, waving bamboo tubes called gu shengtong.

"We chose bamboo for its symbolism and sustainability," said volunteer leader Ye Jiqin. "It lets everyone feel part of the rally."

The local cinema even opened a hall for free live screenings. "The atmosphere rivals the arena itself," said manager Lu Tiefeng.

The county has transformed into a living arena: streets are lined with banners, shop windows are plastered with posters and children wave flags. For many residents, the appeal is less about winning and more about the fight.

"Our players fight until the final buzzer," Ye said. "Their grit mirrors the spirit of our community."

Work and play

The players, many of them ordinary workers, have become local heroes. Among them is guard Yao Dingtian, a bank clerk who scored 28 points in Qingyuan's 83-108 loss to Hangzhou.

"He embodies the spirit of a true hometown hero," said one elderly fan.

At the bank, customers request Yao by name. "They say trusting him feels like trusting someone who never gives up," a colleague noted.

Across the town, posters of players fill public spaces, while videos of their efforts spread widely online, turning the county into a trending topic.

For Qingyuan, the final buzzer is not an ending but the start of a story still unfolding. To its people, the team's first victory feels like only a matter of time.

Xinhua