Skip to content

Undefeated Ice wins another tournament

Isfeld basketball team improves record to 19-0
15218618_web1_190121-CVR-M-Rutledge
Ian Rutledge won the three-point contest at the Esquimalt Firefighters Tournament by hitting 16 threes in the final round in one minute. File photo

The Isfeld Ice senior boys basketball team completed a four-game sweep last week, running this season’s record to 19-0 and a provincial ranking of seventh.

Isfeld began the week by defeating a game Alberni Armada squad 80-39. Temwa Mtawali led four scorers in double figures with 16 points, Ian Rutledge and Hayden Fieret each had 12, and Aiden McDonald added 10.

The Ice ventured south to the Esquimalt Firefighters Tournament on the weekend, opening with a 77-34 win over Belmont. The Mtawali brothers combined for 37 points — Thaskani with 19 and Temwa 18. E-jay Escosia chipped in with 14 points in his best game to date.

In the semifinal, Isfeld played the host Dockers of Esquimalt. With the score 23-19 at the end of the first quarter, the Ice exploded for 37 points in the second, going up 60-32. The final score was 89-63 Isfeld. Thaskani scored 24 points, Temwa 23 and McDonald 11.

In the tournament final, Isfeld faced a tough and much improved Mount Doug. Up 12 at the half, the Ice outscored the Rams 20-4 in the third quarter, en route to a 67-43 win. Temwa concluded his best three-game scoring stretch this season by leading the way with 25, which earned him all tournament honours along with McDonald, who had a superb all-round game scoring 12 points. Tournament MVP Thaskani had 10 in the final.

Earlier in the day, Rutledge won the three-point contest by hitting 16 threes in the final round in one minute.

The Ice is in Nanaimo this weekend to play a pair of exhibition games against Dover Bay on Friday and NDSS on Saturday.