Prices Waimea Ahurei bring the heat when it counts the most

Prices Waimea Ahurei are champions again after a convincing 52-40 win over Jacks OPD.

In front of a packed house, Ahurei dominated from the outset as they raced out to an early four-goal lead, never trailing their opposition.

Despite their previous encounters being back-and-forth affairs, Jacks couldn't find the responses to a surging Ahurei.

Right through the court, Jacks were being outplayed and coming face to face with a smothering defence that stifled any attack they tried to mount.

Jacks did have fight in them right to the end, bringing the game back to within five points in the final 15 minutes after trailing by 12 points coming into the quarter.

It was a theme of the game for Jacks, Ahurei were quick to take back control and pounced on a small mistake to reassert their dominance.

Every time Jacks started getting a sniff that momentum was swinging back in their favour, they came up against a brick wall.

From finals MVP Chelsea Reed at GA right through to Dayna Kerr at GD, the whole team had one of their best performances when it counted the most for Ahurei.

They came out with a pace that looked unsustainable but were able to carry it through the full sixty minutes to be the deserving winners of the NBS premier grade competition.

Jacks were dealt a blow early, with Ani-Marie Waitai lasting less than 10 minutes before she had to leave the court.

She has been battling with a calf injury through the second half of the season, and while it was not expected she would play a full game it was an early blow.

The tables were evened minutes later when Ahurei lost their GS Shar Lowe to injury.

Her loss left big shoes to fill, with Kelsey Whiting having to slot into the position after having been called up from the club's third-string team.

Despite having to play almost the entire game, Kelsey excelled with 22 points from her 28 attempts, with her confidence growing as she started taking more and more difficult shots.

For Jacks, Chloe Webb was outstanding with 22 points from 28 shots, as well as being a crucial part of their offensive patterns.

She was awarded the Devine Fitness trophy for most improved player and the Charles Cowman cup for the most valuable premier player.

Jacks coach Robyn Leonard says they didn't have the answers for Ahurei today.

"They just outplayed us right from the word go.

"Their defence was very good and shut our attack down."

She says they weren't able to find their combinations with their backs against the wall.

"We know Prices can pull it out in big games, and that's what happened.

"We've had an amazing season. Look at all the cups we got, but you want the big one."

Ahurei coach Mandy Whiting says it was their best game of the season.

"They brought it at the right time.

"We know as a team we can play like that, but we hadn't all season."

She says the way the team responded to losing Shar early highlighted their grit.

"To have a shooter (like Kelsey) who hasn't come on for us much this season. . . and now it's like 'wow, she's in a final'.

"I'm gutted for Shar, but that could have changed the game.

"But, every combo checked out, and they all did their jobs."