The Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team had the privilege of competing at the 75th anniversary of the B.C. high school boys AAA championship in Langley.
Entering the tournament as the fourth-ranked Island team, the Ice had the daunting task of taking on B.C. number one Duchess Park of Prince George.
With an early jump, Duchess ran to a 45-27 half-time lead. As hard as the Ice pushed in the second half, coach Kent Milburn said the boys just didn’t have the guns to overcome the lead.
The final score was 83-60 Prince George. Grade 10 Temwa Mtawali led Isfeld with 31 points. Mike Aguilar scored 11 and Quinn Roberts chipped in eight points.
The next two games were against Island one and two seeds, St. Michaels of Victoria and John Barsby of Nanaimo. Each was an intense match, with the Ice losing both by five points. Mtawali led both games in scoring. Senior Zack Taylor had big games with 14 and 13 points. Owen Crouse, with his consistent defensive hustle, added seven and nine points. Grade 10 Duncan Whetter provided many rebounds and a big presence in the middle.
Isfeld’s last game of the season Friday was against the sixth-ranked Richmond Colts. With the pressure off and each player receiving plenty of floor time, the Ice finished on a huge high by winning 92-68. Mtawali, who garnered plenty of attention throughout the tourney, again led the Ice with 36 points and seven steals. Taylor, who scored 21, and fellow senior Sam Purcell finished their high school careers in style. Bryce Benton and Karmen Kandola each had seven. Ryan Bull and Amha Mulatu both finished the year with strong showings.
“For a team ranked 16 coming into the tourney, the boys put up great, hard fought, intense battles in the three losses, and just like the Island finals, walked away with the tournament’s most sportsmanlike team,” Milburn said.
The players extend thanks to manager Pav Mtawali, as well as Jack and Josh, and alumni Dawson Fox and Hayden Fieret.
