The Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team pushed its league record to 4-0 Thursday, Jan. 24 with a comfortable 86-63 win over the Whalers of Ballenas.
Isfeld blew the game open in the second quarter, holding Ballenas to three points while tossing in 26 of their own. Aidan McDonald led all scorers with 27 points. Temwa Mtawali had 22 and Jay Escosia had his best game of the year to date with 20 points.
The Ice continue to hold down its seventh-place ranking among triple-A teams in B.C.
On Friday, Isfeld played Dover Bay in Nanaimo. After a slow start, the Ice closed the first quarter on a 12-2 run and led 22-16. The second and third quarters were more of the same as the Ice pushed the lead to 12. Dover opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run coming within two, and eventually tied the game at 67 with three minutes to play. Isfeld closed the game on a 5-0 run to win 72-67. Twice in the waning minutes, Isfeld executed in the half-court offence to close out the game. The first time, McDonald scored on a dribble drive, and then Jacob Volkers slipped a screen to seal the win. Thaskani Mtawali led the Ice scoring with 28, Temwa added 22 and McDonald chipped in 13.
On Saturday, Isfeld faced a much bigger NDSS Islander team, and lost for the first time this season 70-65. The Ice was up by five midway through the third quarter but could not close out the deal. Eventually, Nanaimo just wore the Ice down. Leading scorers were McDonald with 15, Temwa 14 and Thaskani 12.
Isfeld plays in the Countdown to Playoffs Tournament this weekend at Brentwood College.