North Coast know all about it following a heartbreaking 68-63 extra-time defeat to Sydney South West at the NSW Combined High Schools basketball titles.

A win over Sydney South West could have seen them finish second in their pool where they would have been in the running for a top-three finish overall.

Scores were locked at 57-all at the end of regulation time, before the Sydneysiders held their composure the longest in the added period.

North Coast had another chance to progress to the semi-finals with a final-round win over South Coast, but the mental letdown of the extra-time defeat took its toll.

Carnival manager Chris Hancock said South Coast shot the lights out on the way to a 69-61 defeat which relegated North Coast to fifth in their pool.

They claimed something from the carnival with a comprehensive 95-65 win over North West to finish ninth.

Throughout the three days of the CHS basketball titles in Port Macquarie, the local girls mixed it with the best in the state.

The final results don’t show the closeness of the competition.

The home side drew the pool of death alongside Sydney North, Sydney East, Sydney South West and the South Coast.

Despite the tough draw, only a buzzer-beating three-pointer in their clash with Sydney East prevented them from registering two straight victories to start the competition.

They opened their campaign with an 83-72 victory over Sydney North before Sydney East got out of jail with a 62-59 victory on Tuesday.

Hancock said the North Coast side finished sixth at last year’s tournament in Goulburn and early indications were they would improve on that effort.

“They were drawn in with three Sydney sides which was tough,” he said.

Positive results against Sydney South West or the South Coast on Tuesday would have seen them sneak into the finals.

But it wasn’t to be.

“Three wins would have been enough to get into the finals, but two wins could see them sneak in on goal difference,” Hancock said at the time.

Coffs Harbour duo Emily Rickards and Bella Grace along with Ballina’s Erin Cattle were the standouts for their side.

“Normally North Coast sides are thrown together so they don’t go in with a lot of confidence,” Hancock said.

“But having five of the Coffs Harbour girls who play together all the time definitely helps.”

Port Macquarie’s Leilani Grainger was impressive.

“She’s one of the younger girls in the North Coast side, but she did well,” he said.