The Isfeld Ice junior girls basketball team is going to the B.C. championships.
The host Ice kept their cool when they needed it most at the Vancouver Island finals (Feb. 23-25). In as dramatic a finish seen in the Comox Valley in many years, Isfeld advanced to the B.C.s with a semifinal victory in double overtime Friday night at Mark Isfeld against a gutsy Ballenas team from Parksville.
Isfeld started the tournament Thursday with a stunning upset of B.C. top-15 ranked Claremont from Victoria. Employing a smothering defence, the Ice shut down Claremont’s wonderful young star to lead 6-2 at the end of the first quarter and 20-13 at the half, highlighted by a trey by forward Leah Cicon.
The Ice continued the defensive shutdown in the second half, outscoring Claremont 23-18 to win 43-30. Mission accomplished. Danielle Vanbergen and Melia Irvine scored 10 points each while Michaela Ashlee chipped in nine, but defence won the day with Cicon, Shimen Fayad and all leading the way.
The dramatics heightened in the semifinals against Ballenas who had beat the Ice twice this season. Two nervous teams looked shaky to start with Ballenas up 5-3 at the quarter and Isfeld up 10-9 at the half. Shooting strokes improved in the third quarter with the Ice up 20-17 thanks to baskets by Ashlee, Irvine and Vanbergen.
Then came the fireworks. Ballenas jumped to a three-point lead but the Ice switched to man-to-man defence, tied the score, then took the lead in the fourth – up by three with five seconds left. A Ballenas timeout allowed them to set up a screen-the-shooter, three-point play which swished to tie the game.
In the first overtime Ballenas jumped ahead and led by three with 40 seconds left and the ball in their possession. Somehow the Ice got the steal and in a scramble got an end-line play opportunity with less than five ticks on the clock. Ashlee nailed a long three-pointer to prolong the suspense, to the delight of many screaming fans. In the second OT the Ice showed their cool. Key baskets by Avery Snider, Irvine, Vanbergen and Ashlee allowed the Ice to romp home to win 43-33 against a most worthy opponent.
In the final against top-three ranked Oak Bay, one bad quarter proved the Ice’s undoing, but credit to a fine Oak Bay team who shot and scored nine treys. All the Ice played hard, with Fayad knocking down six points against a tall, tall squad.
Final standings were Oak Bay, Isfeld, Pacific Christian (also selected Most Sportsmanlike Team) and Ballenas. Other competing teams were Claremont, Alberni, Kwalikum and Shawnigan Lake. The provinicials go March 8-10 at the Langley Sports Centre.
Ice team members include Jessica Drummond, Malia Irvine, Michaela Ashlee, Hanna Kirk, Yasmine Boilard, Avery Snider, Mackenzie Kir, Leah Cicon, Shimen Fayad, Danielle Vanbergen, Rachel Dunn and Camille Bourget.
– Isfeld Ice basketball
