After each attempt at goal , Raffles Institution's (RI) attacking duo Amandeep Kaur, 17, and Valerie Shao, 18, would high-five each other and kiss their own wrists regardless of the outcome.
For the 200 supporters watching yesterday's Schools National A Division netball final between RI and Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) at the Toa Payoh Sports hall, the pair's exchange was a common sight as they racked up all the goals in a 55-32 win to make it four titles in a row for RI.
"It's just something we came up with to keep us going and to encourage each other after every shot," said goal-shooter Amandeep, who netted 36 times.
"It's a way of letting her (Amandeep) know it was a good shot and to keep it up," added goal-attack Valerie, who chipped in with 19 goals.
RI have now won every edition since 2014 after ending ACJC's five-year stranglehold on the title.
But it was ACJC who started the game on the front foot with a two-goal lead at the start.
The defending champions responded quickly with two goals in under five minutes through Amandeep. RI then finished the first quarter with a 13-8 lead.
RI's brand of high-tempo netball eventually wore their opponents down as they extended their lead with each successive quarter.
ACJC's efforts to stage a comeback were unsuccessful, as they struggled to create chances in the face of constant RI pressure.
On the victory, RI captain Angela Lim, 18, said: "I think it's nerves (on trailing to ACJC's early lead). We wanted to perform today and continue the tradition.
"There was added stress when we were making passes and runs. But thankfully, we managed to settle down and play to our own strengths and pace."
For ACJC captain Rindy Lok, who was playing in her second and final A Division championships, reaching the final was a marked improvement from the previous year when the team finished third.
The 17-year-old goal-attack said: "We put up a very good fight. Everyone really persevered."
In the third- and fourth-place play-offs, also held yesterday, Hwa Chong Institution beat River Valley High School 49-39 to take the bronze medal.
