Rangiora High School will play its first ever Thomson Cup final tonight after beating Christchurch Boys' High School 64-61 in the semifinal.
Star player Noa Price sank a three-pointer moments before the end-of-game buzzer.
Cashmere High beat Middleton Grange 92-85 in the other semifinal.
Rangiora Captain Lachie Macfarlane said the team had not expected to make the final, but getting that far has been "unreal".
"We've just worked so hard to get here. At the start of the year we never thought we would make it this far. It's an amazing feeling," he said.
Cashmere did not underestimate the power of the Rangiora side, who coach Paul Connor said would be "very 'up' for tonight".
He also reiterated the capability of his own side.
"We've played 20 different high school teams and we've won every game," he said.
Beyond the Canterbury competition, both teams have labelled the South Island competition as a goal.