The Mark Isfeld Ice junior girls basketball team proved this weekend they can play with the best in the province after finishing second at their home tournament.
The Ice actually posted three wins in a row Thursday, Friday and Saturday before facing the top-ranked Oak Bay team from Victoria in the final game Saturday evening.
On Thursday evening, the Ice travelled to Port Alberni for a league game against the always tough Armada. Down 12-9 at the end of the first quarter, Isfeld fought back to trail by only one at the half 16-15. Employing a new press, the Ice outscored Alberni 20-6 in the third quarter and that proved to be the difference leading to a 42-30 very tough win.
Distributed scoring led by Danielle VanBergen, Melia Irvine and Camille Bourget combined with tough physical defensive play by all earned the win, a team spokesperson said.
Friday was tournament day and the Ice defeated a young Mt. Douglas team handily in the first game of Isfeld’s eight-team tournament.
Saturday morning the Ice faced rival Kwalikum in one semifinal. The girls came out sharp, outscoring a tough opponent 18-5 in the first quarter and continued the crisp running of their offence and sharpshooting throughout the contest, winning 65-32.
Strong defensive forward play from Leah Cicon, Yasmine Boilard and Bourget combined with sharpshooting forward scoring from Jessica Drummond and Shemin Fayad totalling 18 points helped lead the team to victory. Not to be outdone, guards Hana and MacKenzie Kirk, Michaela Ashlee, Avery Snider, VanBergen and Irvine added 44 points with many amazing baskets.
The goal of the girls was to meet provincially top ranked Oak Bay in the finals and prove to themselves they could compete with the best in the province. The Oak Bay squad, coached by former Vanier Towhees Brandon and Barclay Ellis, have been provincially ranked number one or two all year.
With apprehension but determination the Ice took the court and battled the Oak Bay girls evenly. They were down 11-9 at the end of the first quarter, with two treys by Irvine and VanBergen helped the cause. The second quarter intensity increased with evenly matched play continuing and Oak Bay up 26-23 at the half after hitting a late three-pointer from the corner.
The Ice girls learned a third quarter lesson facing a hostile trapping zone press, and Oak Bay went on a a 12-point run to lead going into the fourth quarter. Not admitting defeat, the proud Ice girls out-battled Oak Bay in the fourth, outscoring the Bays with some lovely baskets by Snider, VanBergen, Fayad, Mackenzie, Hana, and steady point guard play from Ashlee and defensive work from Irvine but going down to defeat 56-41.
"Goal accomplished – the Ice realize they can play with the best!" a team spokesperson said. The girls have exam break this weekend then get set to head to Area 3 and North Island playoffs, hopefully securing a berth in the Vancouver Island junior girls championships Feb. 16-18 at Mark Isfeld.
"A rematch with Oak Bay has been requested," the team spokesperson said. "Special thanks to teachers Grant Ashlee, Heidi Zirkl, Colin Cunningham and John Bos and all the volunteer student scorekeepers for their help. Well done, Ice!"
– Isfeld Ice basketball