Barrow's Tyler Baines spent his Christmas representing his country after playing wheelchair basketball for Great Britain Academy in their series against Spain.

It turned out to be a bittersweet international debut for the 17-year-old as Great Britain went down to a 5-0 series loss to what was a very strong Spanish squad.

Four of their set-up have been part of the tourists' senior squad at some point and that experience told at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Baines opened the scoring as GB ran their opponents close in the first game, eventually losing 56-54, while it was another tight encounter in the third game, in which Baines notched eight points as the home side eventually went down 53-50.

Baines said: "They were a very powerful unit and extremely well drilled. It’s opened my eyes up at international level and I’m hungry for more. It would have been nice to nick a victory but it wasn’t to be.

"I’m going to be training hard over the next few months for both club and GB then go out to Switzerland in March to play Euro League for my club side, Oldham Owls."

Baines trains with Great Britain three times a week in Sheffield, on top of playing for Oldham in the Northern Premier League.

Baines' father Mark said: "I thought the GB lads did themselves proud. "I certainly didn’t expect a 5-0 drubbing, but it just goes to show that international basketball can’t be taken for granted.

"The kids, of which the majority were making their debuts, I’m sure will have learned a lot.

"I wasn’t sure what sort of side they would send over but one thing's for sure, it was a very very powerful one.

"All ten of them are on the payroll out in Spain and that alone tells you what sort of opposition they were up against."