Second? Not this time.
After finishing runner-up for the past two seasons, the Otago Goldrush was determined to improve its record in finals.
And it did that with an emphatic 72-57 win against the Nelson Sparks in the final of the Women's Basketball Championship at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.
A crowd of about 500 watched as the Goldrush took turns cutting down a piece of the net. The celebrations were low-key, all things considered, and the mood reflected more a sense of relief and quiet satisfaction than it did unbridled joy.
Perhaps coach Brent Matehaere, named the competition's coach of the year, summed up the feelings best.
"Right now I'm relieved," he told the Otago Daily Times shortly after the game.
"I felt we always had the personnel to do it and it was just a matter of getting on the court and doing it."
His side went away from the game plan midway through the third quarter and allowed the Sparks back into the contest. But Otago had too much depth and class and emerged from its lull in the final period to seal the 15-point win.
"Towards the end, we found our intensity and just got it done. That shows the quality of the personnel we have. They just got after it and fought for it.
"So I guess I'm proud, satisfied and pretty damn happy, actually."
Fearless shooting guard Samara Gallaher was more animated than most. She turned 19 on the day of the final.
"I just can't stop smiling," she said. "It is the best feeling and best birthday present ever."
She also has cause to celebrate her contribution. With the Sparks threatening to snatch the game away from Otago, Gallaher almost single-handedly wrestled back the momentum with three or four steals in about 2min.
It was fabulous hustle and just what her side needed. She also bumped and bruised her way through some heavy traffic in a haul of nine points.
Gallaher leaves Dunedin to take up a scholarship in the United States next Tuesday and said she would leave smiling.
Captain Casey Lockwood's efforts during the three-day tournament were outstanding, and she was later named MVP. She was joined in the all-star five by Gallaher, Nelson's Kat Jones and Jelena Vucinic, and Waikato's Leanna Walker.
Lockwood turned in another top performance with 19 points and seven rebounds. Defence was the key, she said.
"Just getting it done on defence, because that leads to fast break opportunities. When we can get that, we look pretty good.
"Otherwise, it was staying calm on offence and executing, because they were really pressuring us."
For dual international Suzie Bates, belief made the difference.
"From day one, we believed we were good enough to win it and I think that was the difference. In the past, we've thought Harbour has had the wood on us. But it just come down to a bit of belief and everyone working hard for each other."
The Harbour Breeze beat the Goldrush in the 2009 and 2010 finals but was eliminated by its old foe in the semifinal.
