The best thing about Otago's win at the national under-21 tournament is the team is well placed to do it all again next year, coach Lauren Piebenga says.
Just three members of the 12-strong squad will be ineligible for next year's tournament.
And with so many players likely to return, there is every reason to feel confident about the next few years. The real challenge, though, will be to keep the players in the region.
"We'll get another couple of years out of most of them which is really positive," Piebenga said.
"But it is always a challenge keeping them here. So many come here and study and we've got a number of good coaches in the region who develop them. But it is just hanging on to them once they've finished university. That is always the tricky bit."
From the triumphant squad, only goal keep Lucy Harstone, wing defence Harriet Arbuckle and Kate Shearer will break through the age barrier next year.
Piebenga was not sure whether she would return next year but was yesterday still revelling in the 60-59 win against Canterbury in the final on Thursday.
"We're on cloud nine, really," she said.
Otago stumbled in pool play, losing to Western. But the team bounced back with a 68-57 win against Canterbury to claim top spot in section B and secure a quarterfinal against Counties Manukau, which it brushed aside 70-51.
Otago beat Auckland Waitakere 51-48 in a physical semifinal and the final was a thrilling encounter. Otago built a small lead and then had to weather a determined fight-back.
"The score seesawed all game," Piebenga said.
"We had beaten Canterbury by 11 goals in pool play but they were fired up and ready for us. But we were able to keep our composure at the end and played to our strengths."
Otago "turned the ball over more than was ideal" but tight defence and some accurate shooting served the team well.
"It is hard to single out any individual but Te Paea [Selby-Rickit] put up more goals than anyone in the whole tournament and shot around 90%."
"And Kate's injection of speed was fantastic. But we were just a complete unit all the way through. Defensively we were really tight and made good connections, and through court we held on to possession."
Selby-Rickit, who was a back-up shooter for the Southern Steel this season, had an outstanding campaign and was named in the tournament team alongside team-mates Shearer, a classy goal attack, and the captain and busy midcourter Gina Crampton.
Shearer, who has been with the side for three years, said the team was a "little bit worried" after its loss to Western.
"We talked it through and it was good to get the loss out of the way and really go for it," she said.
But despite enjoying a comfortable win against Canterbury in pool play, Shearer said the team was wary of its northern neighbour.
"Anything can happen in a final, so we wanted to come out firing."
