The Mark Isfeld Ice senior girls' basketball team took top spot at the 60th annual Totem Tournament, Jan. 9-10 in Port Alberni.
The Ice played their first game at noon Friday against the Belmont Bulldogs from Victoria and won 52-39. Their second game was Saturday morning against the Killarney Cougars from Vancouver. The score was tied at the end of the first quarter, and Killarney had an eight-point lead at the half. But at the start of the third the Ice executed their fast break very well and had a 14-point scoring run to take the lead.
Killarney fought back and maintained a two-point lead until a couple of minutes left when Isfeld ramped up their defence and made some steals which resulted in more fast breaks and a 77-71 victory.
The final game was played against the tourney hosts in front of a bleacher-packed Port Alberni crowd, with cheerleaders along both end lines. "The girls were glad to have one section of supportive, cheering Isfeld parents and siblings in the crowd!" a team spokesperson said.
Isfeld started out strong with and 8 -0 lead, then the Armada had several free throw opportunities to tighten the score. The score was 25-23 at the half for Alberni.
Having run into foul trouble at the beginning of the game, three Isfeld players were seeing limited floor time. But at the start of the third all players got into the game and Avery Snider led the team on a 23-point scoring run (getting several points, plus assists) to give the Ice a strong lead.
Foul trouble continued and turned the game into a nail-biter as with 8:17 left the Ice already had five fouls, and with six minutes
remaining four of Isfeld's eight players were fouled out, so it became a game of 5-on-4 for the home team.
The Armada put on a full court press and managed to close the gap, but Camryn Curts, Danielle Robertson, Delaynee Pedersen-Skene and Kyla Dewitt played hard till the last whistle and Isfeld won 62-57.
The coaches and parents of the Ice were very proud of the girls
for the solid team effort they put forth all weekend. "Congratulations to Camryn for being named to the all-star team, and to Avery for being named the tournament MVP," the team spokesperson said.
This weekend the girls will be playing in the Victoria
Police Tournament.
– Isfeld Ice Basketball