The Mark Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team qualified for the provincial 3A championships March 11-14 at the Langley Events Centre this past weekend by going 3-1 and finishing third on the Island.
In the opening round the Ice defeated Reynolds 55-21. Up only seven at the half (22-15), the Ice shut out the Roadrunners in the third quarter 26-0, blowing what had been a tight game wide open. Nic Xylinas scored 14 points and Blaze Gailloux added 11.
In the semifinal game against Wellington the Ice lacked the intensity at the defensive end of the floor to win the game, coming up on the short end of a 62-42 score. Noah Kaefer scored 15 and Xylinas contributed 10.
On Saturday in a win-or-go-home game, the Ice faced tournament host Parklands. The score was 25-20 at half time and then the Ice hit four straight threes in the middle of the third quarter to go up 15. Foul trouble plagued Isfeld in the fourth quarter with three starters fouling out with over five minutes to go.
Zach Fieret and Jonah Hill along with Xylinas stepped up, playing major minutes to help the Ice win the game. In the final four minutes of the fourth quarter Davis Malton and Hank Mangdaz hit 11 of 13 free throws to seal the victory.
In the third place game, where the winner goes to the B.C.s, the Ice faced a Pacific Christian school that had upset Reynolds and Carihi to get there.
The Ice were terrific defensively, allowing only 32 points in a 52-32 win. Xylinas scored 21 and was selected first team all-Island while Kaefer scored 19 and was selected to the second team all-Island.
The Ice now enjoy a much-needed week off before heading to the provincials where they will face last year's semifinal opponent Charles Hays in the opening round on Wednesday, March 11 at 1:45 p.m. All games will be live streamed on the Langley Events Centre website.
FREE THROWS Nanaimo defeated Wellington 56-49 in the final of the eight-team Island tourney … more info on the Islands and B.C.s is at sportvictoria.com …
– Isfeld Ice Basketball