The Isfeld Ice concluded a most successful season with a 6th place finish at the BC Boys 3A Provincial Basketball Championships this past week in Langley.
Isfeld opened with a 68-51 win over #9 ranked Duchess Park. Between the two schools they had a combined record of 63-3. The Ice outrebounded the Condors 36-23 and put the game away with a fourth quarter in which they outscored Duchess 20-8. Noah Kaefer led the Ice with 24, Hank Magdanz and Jeppe Madsen added 18 each.
In the second round Isfeld faced #1 ranked Southridge of Surrey. Up six after one quarter Southridge switched to a 1-3-1 zone and the Ice went cold from the outside for one of the few times this season. Southridge took control of the game, out-scoring the Ice 26-6 in the second and cruised to a 78-47 win. Kaefer had 12 along with Madsen.
In the tournament’s third round Isfeld faced a huge and athletic Abbotsford team led by Notre Dame University recruit Chase Claypool. After being tied at the end of the first quarter Isfeld put the clamps on the Panthers’ Claypool, led by Anthony Xylinas, and outscored them 19-6. The final score was 75-49 for the Ice.
Claypool was held to 20 points on 8-for-25 shooting. Kaefer dominated the bigs of Abby, scoring 41 and adding 15 rebounds.
On the tourney’s fourth day Isfeld faced a much bigger Lord Byng squad from Vancouver. Byng started on the front line 6’8″, 6’8″ and 6’5″.
The Ice controlled the first half and entered half time with a 28-27 lead. Byng switched to a zone in the second half and Isfeld stopped creating tempo and began to walk the ball up the court. This allowed Byng to use their height to control the game eventually winning 58-44.
Kaefer ended up with 18 for the game and was selected first team all star. The Ice concluded the season with a school record 37 wins.
