The Harbour Breeze predictably won the Dunedin tournament with a convincing 58-46 win over the Taranaki Trojans in the final on Saturday, but Otago overcame poor preparation to keep its title prospects alive.
The Goldrush had a crucial 83-63 win over the Wellington Swish on Friday night to seal a semifinal spot but was beaten 83-64 by Taranaki.
Coach Brent Matehaere was disappointed his side "froze" against Taranaki but was pleased with the performance given the limited preparation.
"We got out-hustled in the semifinal. The team that we played had to beat us to make the championship round and came out all guns blazing and fired up," Matehaere said.
"There was a feel before the game that we had made the finals and had achieved our goal and I think we were pretty flat, really."
Taranaki set the tone early, establishing a 22-13 lead by the first break.
Down 16 points at half-time, Otago held its own in the final two quarters but could not get close enough to mount a serious challenge.
Samara Gallaher led the scoring for Otago with 21 points, while Amber Bellringer scored a game-high 25 points for Taranaki.
In the play-off for third and fourth, Otago faded in the final stretch to lose 76-71 to the Waikato Wizards.
Gallaher top-scored again with 24 points and Janet Main chipped in with 12 points.
Waikato spread the scoring, with Alana Auld, Natasha Lenden and Miriam Slatter all posting double figures.
Otago did not have the best of build-ups and at one practice had just four players present.
In that context, its fourth placing was a good result.
The offence was dysfunctional at times but Matehaere said given more practice the team could fulfil its potential.
Tall Black guard Kirk Penney scored 35 points to help New Zealand defeat Portugal 98-91 on the first day of action at the Trentino Cup in Trento, Italy.
Rookie Tom Abercrombie also had a good game with 13 points and five rebounds, and centre Alex Pledger added 10 points and eight boards.
New Zealand 98 (Kirk Penney 35, Tom Abercrombie 13, Alex Pledger 10, Michael Fitchett 10) Portugal 91.
Quarter 25-21, half-time 45-41, third quarter 75-67.
