A strong second half powered the Vanier Towhees to a 74-55 victory over the Cowichan Thunderbirds in Vancouver Island North league senior boys basketball Tuesday night in Courtenay.
The win improved the Towhees' record to 2-0 in league play and 17-4 on the season.
Vanier head coach Larry Street said the first half was a tester for both teams, with Cowichan being the more finesse team and Vanier being feisty enough to hold them to a 31-30 half-time lead.
In the second half the Comox Valley crew showed great composure and played very well together, moving the ball for some quality open shots, and being tougher inside the paint than their opponents.
"All the Towhees put in a grand effort, and are showing signs during this mid-season that they just might be a very good team," Street said. "The best part about all this is that we are good, and have lots of room to get much better still."
Big Chase Hobenshield shot an outstanding 65 per cent, scoring 28 points, while adding four rebounds and being a big menace inside on defence.
Anders Storgaard added 23, hitting three big three-pointers, hauling in seven rebounds and adding seven assists and seven steals. Tyler Knopp continued his improving ways and had eight points with four rebounds while senior Bryce Olsen led with eight rebounds while playing enormously tough on defence.
Next up for the Towhees is the always tough Semiahmoo of White Rock on Saturday night (Jan. 24) at 7 p.m. at Vanier, at the end of the Grade 9 boys tournament.
– Vanier Towhees Basketball