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Isfeld senior boys basketball opens season with tourney win

Ice wins Wildcat tournament
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Thaskani Mtawali, pictured during a game last season at Vanier, led the Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team to victory at the Westview Wildcat Tournament. Scott Stanfield photo

The Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team opened the 2018-19 season last weekend on the road in Abbotsford against a much improved St. John Brebeuf team.

After a slow start, Isfeld closed out the first quarter on a 13-2 run to go up 15-6. Defensively, the Ice was much better in the second quarter, holding the Bears to just five points and went into the half up 20, 31-11.

Isfeld saved its best effort for the third when the boys went on a 24-6 run at the start of the quarter to blow the game wide open. The final ended up 73-50 for the Ice. Isfeld was led by Thaskani Mtawali with 16 points, followed by three other scorers with double figures: Dawson Fox with 15, Aiden McDonald with 13 and Temwa Mtawali with 12.

Friday saw the Ice open with Charles Best at the Westview Wildcat Tournament in Maple Ridge. The Coquitlam team was huge, averaging 6’ 6” across the front line. The Ice did a great job of spreading the floor and using their quickness to negate a height disadvantage, winning 74-61. Up 10 at the half, again the Ice used a strong third quarter to go up 67-49. McDonald had 21, Thaskani 19 and Temwa added 17.

In the tournament semi-final, Isfeld faced Samuel Robertson Technical of Maple Ridge. With the game tied four-all, Isfeld went on an 8-0 run and never looked back. The final score was 66-38. Again, Thaskani had 19, Temwa 18 and McDonald added 17 for the Ice.

In the tournament final, Isfeld faced a quick and trapping Archbishop Carney team from Port Coquitlam, winning 69-51. With the score 30-20 with 2:30 left in the first half, Isfeld closed out the quarter on a 7-2 to take control, going up 37-22. The third quarter again removed all doubt about the final outcome as the Ice outscored the Stars 33-18, cruising to victory. Thaskani led four scorers in double figures with 17, followed by McDonald and Hayden Fieret with 12 each and Ian Rutledge with 11.

For the weekend, the Ice averaged 11 made threes a game.

League play opens this week on Tuesday but the Ice have a bye. Their next action is in the home Ice Breaker Tournament starting on Friday at 9 a.m. in the Isfeld gym.

Isfeld is ranked number seven in B.C. boys basketball triple-A ratings.