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Otago point guard Hayden Miller and West Auckland forward Duane Bailey helped the NZ Men round out their Australian U20 State Championships campaign with a long-awaited win.

The Kiwis had not tasted success all week in Gawler, but enjoyed some consolation with a 59-55 victory over Australian Capital Territory in the playoff for seventh and eighth.

ACT got off to the better start, leading by as many as 15 points during the second quarter. But NZ got back in the contest with a strong third quarter that saw the scores locked at 44-44 entering the final period.

They finally took the lead with when Wellington guard Winston Li hit a free throw with 8m 31s remaining and managed to hold on despite some shaky shooting from the line down the stretch.

The result was finally secure when Porirua guard Daniel Green hit the first of two freebies to put his team three points up with three seconds left, but Wellington forward Hemi Pairama-Lewington snatched the offensive rebound off his missed second attempt.

Miller led all scorers with 18 points (7/16 FG, 3/4 3pt, 1/2 FT), while Bailey had a double double of 11 points/10 rebounds.

New Zealand continued to shoot poorly, converting only 30% FG, but enjoyed a big possession advantage by taking better care of the ball, committing only 12 turnovers.

The Kiwi women ended their tournament with a 46-74 loss to New South Wales in the playoff for fifth and sixth, but the scoreline probably belies their competitiveness.

They trailed by just two points at halftime, but conceded a 28-5 third quarter that destroyed their chances of an upset. NSW had won their previous encounter by 40 points in the final day of round robin play.

NZ harried their rivals into 26 turnovers, but once again, could not make enough of their opportunities, shooting just 27% FG.

North Harbour forward Ashleigh Poto was the only scorer in double figures with 16 points.

Australian U20 State Championships

Gawler, South Australia
Men (Seventh/Eighth Playoff)
New Zealand 59 (Hayden Miller 18, Duane Bailey 11) ACT 55 (Jonathan Lazaro 12, Nathan Smith 12, Ozen Idehan 10)
Q1 11-20
HT 30-37 (19-17)
Q3 44-44 (14-7)
FT 59-55 (15-11)

Women (Fifth/Sixth Playoff)
New South Wales 74 (Paige Melville 12, Carly Boag 12, Ashleigh Karaitiana 12) New Zealand 46 (Ashleigh Poto 16)
Q1 19-16
HT 31-29 (12-13)
Q3 59-34 (28-5)
FT 74-46 (15-12)