Wynyard women's coach Michael Johnstone believes his team's success in the State Basketball League grand final can flow into the next NWBU season and return them to the top half of the ladder.
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The Wildcats held on to defeat Penguin 63-61 in Sunday's decider in Launceston to claim their first success in the competition.
The result comes after several years of struggle in the local competition where Penguin have been one of the pacesetters.
"I said to the girls after the game that this win can be the start of something for next year," Johnstone said.
"Penguin as a club have been winning silverware for years on end and been in the top four and now the tide has turned.
"If we can maintain the team we have and bring some other girls into the group, we can only get stronger, and the belief is there now, which is also good."
Wynyard got out to an early lead in the final, and managed to stretch it to as much as 13 points during the third quarter.
But the Lady Blues responded, and with 7:21 to go in the final term, had drawn level at 49-49.
I said to the girls after the game that this win can be the start of something for next year.
- Wynyard coach Michael Johnstone
The Wildcats went on a decisive 9-2 run to get the margin back out to seven points with just over two minutes left, and despite import D'Asia Chambers fouling out, they kept Penguin at bay.
Zoe Mesman led Wynyard with 17 points, with Chambers adding 15 points and Ashanti Jackson 14 points, while the Lady Blues were best served by centre Tayla Roberts' 21 points.
Penguin atoned for last year's defeat in the men's grand final, overwhelming Glenorchy in the decider 91-70 to make it three wins from four attempts.
After an even first quarter, the Blues put the foot on the accelerator in the second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 26-15 and establishing a 14-point break at half-time.
The lead swelled to 27 points by three-quarter time, allowing Mal Beveridge's side to coast home in the final 10 minutes.
"It was a similar game to our semi-final where we got control in the second term and broke the game open to leave the opposition a bit deflated," Beveridge said.
"We had six guys score in double figures again and when we bring guys off the bench there is no rest for opposition teams because the expectations in our group is so high that if you come of the bench you either do your job or you sit back down again."
Zac White top-scored for the Blues with 18 points, followed by Jacob Richards with 17 points.
During the day, competition awards were also handed out, with Chambers taking out league MVP in the women's division and making the all-star five alongside Roberts and Burnie duo Mariah Payne and Ellie Collins.
Richards, Burnie's Joe Chilcott and Somerset's Lachie Barker made the men's all-star five alongside Stanwix and league MVP Tiri Masunda from Hobart Phoenix.