Applause was abundant on Saturday night in Thousand Oaks when state Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) teamed up with Lightning to battle Energy.

"Score Senator!" read one of the signs in the stands as the 6foot, 5-inch Strickland, 39, played his first professional basketball game. He wore No. 24 as a forward for the Los Angeles Lightning, who battled the Edmonton Energy on May 2.

Strickland's International Basketball League team features some former NBA players including Bryan Russell, who played in three NBA finals—two with the Utah Jazz and one with the Los Angeles Lakers

The senator played basketball for Whittier College from 1990 to 1992 and scored 47 points in his final home game.

In the stands were Strickland supporters Dan and Mary Smith of Simi Valley, holding a sign that read "Tony! Tony! He's our man!" The two admitted they don't normally go to sporting events but came to the Gilbert Sports Center at Californian Lutheran University just to see the senator play basketball.

"It's my birthday, and I'm glad to be here for Tony's debut," Dan Smith said.

Strickland sat on the bench for most of the game, but the crowd was electrified when he joined his Lightning teammates on court for about five minutes. During that time he fought for rebounds and made a 2-point basket. When he put the ball through the hoop, the crowd came to their feet and gave the loudest applause of the night.

"Tony did a fantastic job. He went out there and hit his first shot," team owner Mark Harwell said.

The senator's wife, state Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), attended along with the couple's daughter, Ruby, 3, and their 1-year-old son Audra called "Tiny Tony."

"We couldn't be more excited. The whole family is here rooting for him. He's living his dream as a professional basketball player," his wife said.

Not everyone was there because of Strickland.

Bobby and Susie Orozco of Piru brought their children, Emma, 8, and Daniel, 4, to the game because they are Russell fans.

"We're Lightning fans. They're fun to watch, and it's a good family experience," Bobby Orozco said.

Tickets run from $6 to $250 in the 1,600-seat facility.

For more information on the L.A. Lightning, go to www.lalightning.net.