Sharks win NBL title in overtime

August 10, 2026

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The Southland Sharks have won the New Zealand National Basketball League title after defeating the Wellington Saints 104-101 in overtime. The exciting final was played in Invercargill in front of the first sell-out crowd in Sharks history. The Sharks had lost to the Saints in last year’s final. This time, they were determined to win the championship.

The scores were level at the end of normal playing time, forcing the teams into overtime. Both sides had to keep playing despite tiredness and cramp. The final minutes were especially tense, with both teams calling time-outs to plan their next moves. The Saints had a chance to send the game into another period of overtime but missed their final shot with only two seconds remaining.

The victory gave the Sharks their fourth NBL championship. Captain Sam Timmins was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring 23 points. He said the team had worked hard, made sacrifices and returned after last year’s disappointment. The players also wanted to win the title for their supporters.

The championship was also a special ending for Sharks coach Jonathan Yim. Yim had joined the Sharks after working as an assistant coach in the NBA and was finishing his two-year time with the team. He said he loved the players and the Invercargill community. The Sharks’ dramatic victory gave Yim a memorable send-off and ended their season with a championship.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

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Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

At Tauranga Bay School, Year 8 students spent Friday morning clearing rubbish from the beach. The principal said the project was important because it helped protect wildlife and made the coast safer for visitors. One student wrote in the school newsletter that the beach looked “much better” after the clean-up. A local volunteer added that single-use plastic is a major problem along the shoreline. By lunchtime, the students had filled six large bags with litter, including drink bottles, food wrappers, and fishing line. The school hopes to organise another clean-up next term.

Which statement from the passage is an opinion rather than a fact?

The clean-up took place on Friday morning. The beach looked “much better” after the clean-up. The students filled six large bags with litter. The bags contained drink bottles, wrappers, and fishing line.