Once the Dover Bay Dolphins raised their game, they were able to pull away from the Nanaimo District Islanders. Until then, the underdog Isles provided some resistance.
Dover defeated NDSS 75-44 on Tuesday in senior AAA boys' basketball action at the Dover Bay Secondary School gym. The margin was as close as eight points early in the third quarter before the Dolphins took control.
"The second half came and we started talking, rebounding harder and getting the little things done," said Matt Billman, Dover player.
Jason McKee paced the Dolphins' attack with 16 points and Billman scored 14. ND's Liam Goodall led all scorers with 23 points.
The Dover Bay Dolphins AAA girls were also embroiled in a good game on Tuesday, taking on the Alberni Armada at Port Alberni and winning 71-56. With the Armada playing tough defence inside, the Dolphins relied on their outside shooting and dropped in an astonishing 13 three-pointers; six from Sara Simovic, four from Jamie Bassett and three from Cassandra Knievel. Bassett finished with 23 points, Simovic had 20 and Knievel, 19.
The evening's feel-good game involved the Barsby Blazers senior AA girls, who earned a rare win by defeating the host Wolves 57-40.
"We finally played like a team," said April White, coach of the Blazers girls. "They did really well. Passing, seeing the open player, they were fast-breaking, rebounding. At the end of the season we're finally coming together."
Marcee Greene scored 16 points to lead Barsby, Jenna Keen scored 14 and Jessie White had 10.
The Barsby senior boys were also winners on Tuesday, defeating Carihi 45-42 on the road. Chris Turner played well at both ends of the court for the Blazers in the win.
The Cedar Spartans teams both travelled up Island on Tuesday as well, with the senior AA boys going to Campbell River and the senior AA girls in Courtenay.
The Spartans boys defeated the Highland Raiders 81-60, with Brendan McCarthy scoring 31 points and Kyle Wolfe adding 15.
"At times we played well, at times we didn't play too well," said Rick Hart, Spartans coach. "We're working on things and trying to get better for the end of the year."
Cedar's girls prevailed 86-76 against the Isfeld Ice in a barnburner.
"It was a pretty quick-paced game both ways," said Launa Gannon, coach of the Spartans girls.
Megan Cawthorne scored a team-best 26 points and Kailey Lockhart and Jessie Sharratt contributed 12 points apiece.
The Wellington Wildcats senior AA girls were involved in the night's closest game, falling 38-36 to Brentwood with Jordyn Hrenyk leading the 'Cats with 11 points.
The Nanaimo District Islanders girls put up a good battle on the road Tuesday, eventually falling 58-44 to the Cowichan Thunderbirds. Leigh Richardson scored 20 points for NDSS and Megan Skeeles and Lina Dinh were other players who chipped in offensively.
Also in action Tuesday were the Woodlands Eagles senior AA boys, who fell 56-51 to the Timberline Wolves at Campbell River.
COURT SHORTS … This article will be updated with other scores and stats from Tuesday's high school basketball games … This Thursday (Feb. 3) has two league games on the schedule, with the Blazers senior girls hosting Brentwood at 5 p.m. at John Barsby Community Secondary School gym and the Woodlands Eagles senior AA girls visiting the Kwalikum Kondors. Thursday also marks the first day of the Cedar Spartans' annual senior boys' tournament. For a schedule of games, please click here. The Wellington Wildcats will host a senior girls' tournament starting on Friday (Feb. 4). Next action for the Dover senior boys is Friday, when they play Mt. Doug on the road, then the Dover boys return to their home gym to take on Claremont at 2 p.m.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com