Stalwart coach Mal Beveridge hailed the club’s men and women’s dual titles a victory for the small coastal town that took on the state.

“This is massive for our club,” Beveridge said on the Elphin court in Launceston, engulfed by club supporters moments after the wins.

“We’re from a pretty small town up there and we punch above our weight a fair bit.

“We’ve just got a club that people want to play for and once you get a club like that, it’s not hard to get guys to come and play for you.

“Once you build that culture where everyone wants to be there, it makes it a helluva easier for a coach as well.”

The Blues turned around an early 12-point deficit to record an emphatic 61-38 win over Kingborough-Huon in the women’s state final.

Their club counterparts held at bay a determined Somerset 83-70 in Sunday’s second championship game.

Beveridge said his players were enthused by Basketball Tasmania’s new format of playing up to seven games that included semi-finals and the final over three weekends throughout the North West, Hobart and Launceston.

“We came off a very long NWBU season,” he said.

“So they were digging into their offseason to do this.”

Beveridge’s outfit were the North West benchmark in a 2017 title win over Burnie.

The seasoned campaigner now for three decades, who played 362 games for Penguin between 1987 and 2004 before turning his attention to coaching, said grassroots clubs could further embrace a polished State League product after four years in.

“[The format] also suits these guys too,” he said.

“They can get the games in without committing for seven or eight weeks in a row.

“So I love the concept and I think it can grow.

“I’d loved to seed it into 12 or 14 teams and everyone get pooled at the end of it.

“So one plays 14 and so forth – a bit like the NCAA.

“If you lose, you’re out and then you come into this final game at the end.

“There’s certainly scope for it to grow and get better.”