Despite a loss to Vanier at home on Tuesday evening, the Cowichan Secondary Thunderbirds remained first in the North Island senior boys basketball league going into their regular-season finale against Dover Bay on Thursday.
Leading Vanier 50-41 after three quarters on Tuesday, the T-Birds gave up 29 points in the last 10 minutes while scoring only 17. Although Cowichan and Vanier split the season series, the T-Birds own the point differential and sit ahead of the Towhees.
Humza Khan had 27 points on Tuesday, and Eston Unrau had 13. Unrau scored 11 in the first half but had to sit out much of the second with foul trouble. The T-Birds shot 5-for-16 from the foul line, while the Towhees were 21-for-37.
The T-Birds will host the AAAA North Island tournament on Feb. 18-20. Cowichan will play Dover Bay at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18, Dover Bay will face Vanier at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19, and Cowichan will take on Vanier at 4 p.m. on Feb. 20.