But Japara countered immediately through sharpshooter Pat Sullivan, who dribbled down court and calmly drilled his fifth three- pointer of the night to hand the Renegades a 78-76 win.

While Sullivan provided the last-minute heroics, it was his good mate and grand final MVP Robert Jetson who kept the Renegades in the game. Jetson posted 25 points, many of those coming from in the key as the Devils big men struggled with his strength.

He had useful support on the boards from AIS hopeful Cameron Witt, who also scored 14 points.

For Devils, in their eighth consecutive grand final, guard Matthew Smith top-scored with 15 points, while Chris Green and Brett Smith each added 12 points.

¤In the women's grand final, Westside Trojans playing coach Mandy Gibson toasted her team's "strong character" after it ran over the City Rockets.

The Rockets had won all four meetings between the two sides this season, but were forced to play catch- up last night after Shelley Clay scored eight of her 16 points in the first term to give Trojans the edge.

Sallee Whitehead and Belinda Stephens then maintained the lead; Whitehead burying five long-range bombs while Stephens notched a game- high 22 points to earn the match's MVP award.

The Rockets rallied in the final quarter behind consecutive three-pointers from Brodie Clark and some full-court pressure, but it came too late as the Trojans held on for a 82-68 win.

RESULTS

WOMEN - WESTSIDE TROJANS 82 d CITY ROCKETS 68. Scorers - TROJANS: B Stephens 22, G Kopershoek 17, S Clay, S Whitehead 16. ROCKETS: C Jordan 19, B Martin 14, K Ashdown, B Clark 10.

MEN - JAPARA RENEGADES 78 d DEVILS BLACK 76. Scorers - RENEGADES: P Sullivan, R Jetson 25, C Witt 14. DEVILS: M Smith 15, C Green, B Smith 12.