The Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team finished a successful season with a 10th-place finish at the triple-A provincial championships in Langley.
The seventh-ranked Ice started the tourney Wednesday with a 92-76 loss to Burnaby鈥檚 St. Thomas More, the 10th-ranked team. Isfeld jumped to a 16-4 lead but then missed eight shots in a row. Coupled with two fouls by Temwa Mtawali, St. Thomas fought back to hold a two-point half-time lead. The Ice could not regain their rhythm and lost by 16.
鈥淲inning that first game is always the key in a championship tournament,鈥� Ice coach Kent Milburn said. 鈥淚t was a very tough loss for our boys.鈥�
Kye Kotapski-Tinga led Isfeld scorers with 29 points, Mtawali had 27 and Finley Lan added 10 points.
In the second game, the Ice won a hard-fought battle 72-63 over Campbell River鈥檚 Timberline 鈥� the fifth meeting between the two teams this season. Karman Kandola scored 15 points, Jasper Halvorson hit for 14, and Ryder Dumonceau scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
The third game Friday saw the Ice beat Vancouver鈥檚 Gladstone Gladiators 96-77. Outstanding games from team leaders Mtawali and Kotapski-Tinga with 40 and 38 points respectively. Good minutes from Grade 12s Leo Blake and Duncan Whetter.
The last game of the season Saturday was against number-five ranked Okanagan Mission. In a high-scoring affair, the Ice fell behind early.
鈥淓very time the boys worked the score back to four or six, Okanagan would pull ahead again,鈥� Milburn said.
Okanagan won 108-94. In their final games as seniors, Kotapski-Tinga and Mtawali were again outstanding, scoring 45 and 31 respectively. Mtawali earned a second all-star award for the week.
鈥淜eep an eye out for both of these players as you will see them in university uniforms next year,鈥� Milburn said.
He and co-coach Blake Tabacca are proud of the season the boys put together. A 29-3 record and an Island championship, hosted by Isfeld, were highlights.
The team thanks their sponsors and fans for their support throughout the year.
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