Westrupp scored 17 points, Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown 15 and Holden Wilson followed up his magical semifinal effort of 32 with 18, including four three-point shots.
Namana’s 16 points led Uawa’s scorers, Amorysia McLean got 14 and the father and son pair of Kerehama and Costa Blackman six points each.
“The best team won,” said Namana. “We had no legs left in the end and lost the game in the last quarter. Offensive rebounds led to too many second-chance points and that killed us.
“Our youngsters, especially Amo (McLean), played well in their first big game but we missed Quentin Solomon, Rikki Crawford (both former National Basketball League first-division players) and Rikki Kernohan.”
GBHS centre Sam Veitch won the tip and Tuwairua-Brown opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the right side of the court.
Uawa’s first field goal was a put-back by forward Harley Phillips for 2-3.
Jorje Tofilau has played with incredible energy for GBHS this year. His outlet pass from halfway to Tuwairua-Brown on the left, and Tuwairua-Brown’s whip pass to Westrupp on the move to the basket for an 8-5 lead, was superb.
But Namana’s long jumpshot from the right side of the court to close it to 11-13 put Boys’ High on notice and the sides ended the first period locked at 13-all.
Uawa hit the front 15-13 when Phillips found Matariki Kaa open.
Meanwhile, Scott Lasenby came into the game for Uawa and took his first defensive rebound while referee Shay Waikawa proved her grand final pedigree with a sharp call on Gisborne Boys’ High’s Karlyle Te Maari when he stepped on the left baseline.
GBHS led 34-21 at halftimeGBHS led 29-21 at the time and forged to a 34-21 lead by the halftime break.
The third period featured some huge defensive plays by the school’s forwards.
Westrupp blocked Kerehama Blackman’s shot out of court on the right side of the floor; Veitch pinned Lasenby’s attempt to the left side of the backboard.
McLean, who came into his own in in the second half, made a three-point play and then a three-pointer from the left corner to cut the gap to 10 points.
With 21 seconds to three-quartertime, left-handed Westrupp hit a long shot to put his side 44-34 up.
Boys’ High captain Max Scott made his mark when he took an offensive rebound underneath Uawa’s big men and scored for a 52-39 lead.
Leftie Scott had picked up his third foul early in the second period but continued to hustle and his 10-foot shot to put the students 60-43 ahead was classy.
Wilson upped the tempo in getting around Phillips to score before giving Westrupp two successive assists as GBHS went 17 in front.
Scott went end-to-end for 74-43 and while Uawa had the last say, that was the ball game.
“This is definitely our best year in a very long time but we’ll be even better in 2019,” said Scott, who ended with 10 points. “We had a so-so first quarter offensively, not making our shots and easy baskets. But we pulled it together in the second half, shot the ball well in the fourth period and didn’t let them come back.”
GBHS Black’s performance was a fitting tribute to their 2008 league-winning Boys’ High predecessors.
Their championship win was built on fitness and structure, with the skills of all eight players used to maximum effect.
