Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team won the inaugural 3A Island championships in Nanaimo this past weekend with a convincing 58-39 triumph over the host Wellington Wildcats.
The Ice only trailed once in the game early on with Wellington up 4-3. Isfeld led 15-9 at the end of one quarter and 32-20 at the half. Wellington made a run in the third quarter and cut the lead to seven going into the fourth quarter. An outstanding defensive effort allowed the Ice to close out the game on a 12-0 run, ending Wellington’s hopes of any comeback.
Isfeld’s balanced scoring attack – led led by Morgan Proctor with 15, Cole Hutchings 14, Owen Kaefer 12 and Richard Girard with 10 – along with superb defence created the margin of victory.
In the opening round of the championships the Ice defeated Pacific Christian 59-28. Defence was the key to victory here as no Pacific Christian player had more than six points and three out of the four quarters the Pacers were held to less than seven points. Cole Hutchings led the scoring with 20 and Morgan Proctor added 10.
In the semifinal Isfeld defeated Reynolds 74-46. Down one at the end of the first quarter, Isfeld went on a 20-2 run to open the second quarter to lead 38-22 at the half. In the third quarter Reynolds closed to within eight but the Ice closed the quarter on a 12-2 run to push the lead back up to 20. Hutchings had 30, Girard added 21 and Proctor had 13.
Kaefer and Girard were named second team All Island and Cole Hutchings was named first team. The tournament MVP was Proctor. The Ice have a week off and then the head to the Langley Events Centre for the Provincial championships March 12-15. Isfeld will open with Maple Ridge at 8 p.m. on Wednesday the 12th; the game will be on podcast at the Senior Boys basketball championships website.
– Isfeld Ice
