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.
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