BARBER Boys has claimed their first Hamilton Basketball Association Division 1 Men’s title after they accounted for Minders White by 20 points on Wednesday night.

A stunning second half saw Barber Boys romp to a comfortable win, despite trailing at half time.

Barber Boys burst out to a 5-1 lead before Minders bounced back to close the deficit and grab a one-point lead.

Scores were levelled up with a timeout called seven and a half minutes into the season decider, giving both teams a chance to take a breath.

Colby Maddocks helped Minders regain the lead, while Josh Miller chimed in soon after, as White made the most of its momentum.

Jack Oswald was also instrumental for Minders at times, while Joel Le Roy and Nate Krause was the standouts for Barber Boys early.

Krause and Maddocks were in early foul trouble with each recording three to their name well before half time.

Oswald nailed a maximum approaching the final minute, as Krause found space on a fast break, but was unable to capitalise from the line after being fouled.

Jakob Greaves reduced the half time deficit to two points for Barber Boys, 26-28.

Wade MacDonald opened up with a three-pointer to grab the lead for Barber Boys in the first play of the second half.

The two teams traded baskets at either end, as the speed if the game increased.

The momentum swung between the two teams with Barber Boys leading 54-50 with under nine minutes to play.

With six minutes left, Krause drove to the basket and made the shot and subsequent free throw to stretch the lead out to a game-high 12 points.

Barber Boys' shooting power proved too strong in the final minutes, as the team went on to win, 83-63.

Jakob Greaves was named the grand final MVP, putting up a team-high 24 points for the winners.

Krause finished with 23, while Le Roy offered good support with 21 points.

Miller top-scored for Minders with 13.

Barber Boys coach, Adrian Calvano, backed his team to keep chipping away as the game went on.

“The first half, our shots that normally drop weren’t dropping, but we knew it would turn around and it did in the second half and our defensive pressure is really where we won the game,” he said.

“We don’t have to rely on individual efforts, our team is strong enough.

“Minders have the height and the smalls and we knew who we had to shut down and we did that.”

Division 1 Women

TIGERS have overpowered minor premiers, Sportscene Minders, to claim top honours for the Division 1 Women’s season with a five-point win in the season decider.

Minders went into the game hopeful of reversing the preliminary final loss to Tigers but was unable to reel in the second-placed team late in the contest.

Isabella Johnson opened the game with a long-range basket for Tigers before following up with two more points.

Tahlia Ross drained a three to open Minders' account soon after, before Indi Ryan levelled the scores at 5-5.

With 11.11 left in first half, Ryan went to the line but was unable to add to Minders' 9-7 lead.

A minute later Ryan got the offensive rebound and doubled her team's advantage.

Tigers out up plenty of shots, but the radar was off.

With five minutes to go in the first half, Rhianne Lewis went to the line and drained both shots to move Minders to a 19-12 lead.

A maximum from Tigers soon triggered a fightback with the yellow team drawing to within one point with under three minutes to play in first half.

With 1.20 to play, Cleaver gave Tigers its first lead of the game, before going into half time ahead, 24-21.

Ella Sevior continued the streak after the break to open a five-point lead for Tigers, but Ross kept Minders in the game with her long-range accuracy.

Cleaver reeled in offensive rebounds at will, helping Tigers to a 40-34 lead approaching the midway point of the second half.

Karoraina Karatau-Keightley’s maximum pushed lead out to double digits, as the pressure started rising on the Minders team.

Errors started to creep in and Tigers capitalised on turnovers, keeping possession and ticking down the clock.

Caitlin Urquhart shot truly from the free throw line late in the game, but Tigers once again responded at the other end with 11 points separating the two teams with less than five minutes to play.

Ross reduced margin to seven points with two minutes to play, but Tigers hung on to win, 55-50.

Cleaver was named the grand final MVP, while Isabelle Johnson top-scored for the winners with 15 points.

Makayla Hutchins was Minders put up 13 points for Minders.

Tigers coach, Mark O’Brien said the team worked to its plans well.

“We did put up a few shots, that is a bit of our game with the long-range shooting,” he said.

“Our defence is what we tried to work on, the full court press we tried to do was to offset their offence and put them on the back foot a bit.

“Grace and Molly worked hard and we also have Ella and Reet as the third and fourth in the press.

“It was a bit nervous late, I kept telling the girls to look after the ball.

“As a team, this is where we wanted to be and all the individual skills came together on the night.”