A sensational three-pointer by Steven Simons right on the buzzer took the game into overtime, paving the way for Bermuda's basketball team to snatch the gold medal for which they had been waiting for more than two years.

In Bermuda's last Island Games event on Saturday afternoon, it was a case of mission accomplished as the team outlasted fierce rivals Menorca 83-75 to exact revenge on the team that had denied them gold at the last Games in Rhodes in 2007.

And it looked like it was going that way again until Simons hit the target with a last-gasp effort, allowing Bermuda to outmuscle their fast-fading and somewhat demoralised opponents in the extra period.

A couple of hours earlier, there was no such celebration for the women's volleyball team as they lost their bronze play-off match, going down 1-3 to Menorca in a game which they had been expected to win.

Having just missed out in a place in the championship match when they were beaten by the Faroes, who went on to win gold, a day earlier the women couldn't rebound in time to regain the form that had made them medal favourites throughout the tournament.

They lost the first two sets 18-25, 20-25, won the third 25-22 before their fate was sealed in the fourth, losing 21-25.

The basketball team's success was particularly sweet, completing a tournament in which they remained unbeaten throughout and came out worthy winners.

Manager Tim Trott, however, admitted Menorca had tested his team to the limit.

"It was an excellent game," said Trott. "The problem was that a lot of our starters were tired, they got some extensive minutes and that's what made the game so close.

"But I was glad we were able to get over the hump. We had a lot of unforced turnovers late in the game.

"We were two years in the waiting and all we were talking about after losing in 2007 was how were going to beat Menorca as we knew they were going to be the team we'd have to beat.

"But when we got here and after our first game (against Cayman), everybody else was saying Bermuda would be the team to beat. And I'm glad we were able to prove that."

With basketball one of the fastest growing sports in Bermuda, Trott hopes the gold medal will help further raise the game's profile.

"I think it will. We actually have another team in the Caribbean now, competing in the CBC Championships, and not to take anything away from them but we are the better team.

"There's just some things we had to take care of and unfortunately we were put in a position where we had to send a team there . . . but as far as our success here is concerned, I'm hoping it does open something up, specifically as far as funding in concerned.

"Having talked to some of the other countries, I think it's a worldwide thing whereby basketball is becoming much more popular with the youth, it's a year-round sport because it's indoors, and I don't see why we can't take this sport a little further in Bermuda.

"Bermuda has always had natural talent but what we are lacking, other than facilities, is coaching and if we're going to get any funding from Government, I think the money has to be put into, as well as youth programmes, better coaching whether it be sending people away or bringing people here.

"I would like to see the Island Games a tournament for young, developing players and then have our senior players compete in the CBC in two years' time. We'll have to see what happens."

As for the Island's facilities for basketball, Trott added: "We continually hear about the National Stadium, the different phases and at this point in time there is another stop in the development for the indoor stadium.

"I honestly feel for us to host a proper tournament we have to have a proper facility, especially in time for 2013 when we host the Island Games, but I don't know whether that's going to happen."

As the Games ended on Saturday, Bermuda were placed seventh on the medal table (32 in total), gymnastics making the largest contribution with –22 medals, Kaisey Griffith collecting seven individual golds.

Another gold came late on Friday when the ladies golf team, while failing to get an individual medal, proved the best overall, three of their scores counting in each of the four rounds.

All four, Ebonie Burgess, Tariqah Walikraam, Katyna Rabain and Katrin Burnie, made a contribution with Burgess placing fifth overall. The men's golf team also struck gold with Jarryd Dillas winning the individual championship in a three-hole play-off.

Bermuda's five young swimmers made their mark throughout the week, delighting coach Richard Goodwin.

"I'm ecstatic about the performances of this team," he said.

Pointing to the fact that the swimmers continuually improved from heat to final, he added: "We work on that. You have to swim well in the morning but you have to be faster in the finals. Our swimmers never failed to do that.

"It was an excellent level. You had at least five swimmers from this meet going off to the World Championships so that should tell you this is a quality meet."

n Bermuda's CBC Championship team lost 100-59 to Bahamas in the fourth game of the competition over the weekend.