Vestri men's basketball

The Vestri men's basketball team, commonly known as Vestri, is a basketball team based in Ísafjörður, Iceland. The club was founded in 1965 as Körfuknattleiksfélag Ísafjarðar and held that name until it merged with newly founded Íþróttafélagið Vestri multi-sport club in 2016 and became its basketball department.

Vestri
Vestri logo
Leagues2. deild karla
Founded1965 (as KFÍ)
HistoryKFÍ
(1965–2016)
Vestri
(2016–present)
ArenaÍsjakinn
(capacity: 1200)
LocationÍsafjörður, Iceland
Team colorsNavy blue, red, white
     
PresidentIngólfur Þorleifsson [1]
Head coachPétur Már Sigurðsson
Assistant(s)Dimitris Zacharias
Championships4 Division I
3 Division II
WebsiteVestri.is

History

The club was founded in 1965 as Körfuknattleiksfélag Ísafjarðar (KFÍ).

In March 1983, KFÍ finished first in its group in 2. deild karla and played Laugdælir, Breiðablik and Íþróttafélag Menntaskólans á Egilsstöðum (ÍME) in they playoffs for the 2. deild championship and promotion to 1. deild karla. According to the rules at the time, each team would play the other three once and the team with the best win–loss record would be crowned champions. KFÍ lost its first game to Breiðablik, 79–76, despite 29 points from Guðjón Már Þorsteinsson and 21 points from Jón Oddsson. In the second game, against Laugdælir, KFÍ scored the last 4 points of the game, winning 79–76, with Kristinn Kristjánsson scoring 23 points, Jón Oddsson 17 points and Guðjón Már Þorsteinsson 16 points. In the final game, KFÍ defeated ÍME 91–70. Both Breiðablik and Laugdælir also won two out of three games, tied with KFÍ. As the rules did not count for any tie-breakers, the three teams were slated to meet again to decide the winner.[2] During the second try, KFÍ lost to Breiðablik in the first game, 78–77, but won Laugdælir in the second game 79–76. Laugdælir however won Breiðablik leaving the teams again tied, thus meaning that a third playoff would be held to decide the winner.[3] During the third playoff, KFÍ won Breiðablik but lost to Laugdælir. As Breiðablik won Laugdælir the teams were once again tied. Prior to the fourth playoffs, the Icelandic Basketball Federation decided that if the teams would once again finish tied, the team with the best scoring record would finish first.[4] The fourth playoff was held from 30 April to 2 May and there Laugdælir won both KFÍ and Breiðablik convincingly and were crowned 2. deild karla champions.[5]

In 1994, the team won the 2. deild karla playoffs, which was held jointly in Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík,[6] after defeating Þór Þorlákshöfn 75–48, and was promoted to 1. deild karla.[7]

On 17 October 1999, KFÍ won Skallagrímur, 129–132, in a game that went into four overtimes. It was the longest Úrvalsdeild karla game ever played in Iceland. Clifton Bush set a then record by playing 59 minutes in the game.[8] It has since been broken by Hörður Axel Vilhjálmsson.[9]

In 2016, KFÍ merged into Íþróttafélagið Vestri and became its basketball sub-division.[10]

On 16 December 2018, while playing in the second-tier 1. deild karla, it knocked out top-tier Haukar in the Final 16 of the Icelandic Cup.[11] It was the only team outside the top-tier Úrvalsdeild to appear in the Final 8 of the cup.[12]

In June 2021, Vestri defeated Hamar in the 1. deild promotion finals and achieved promotion to the Úrvalsdeild.[13]

Head coaches

Men's head coaches:[14]

Season by season

Season Division Regular season Playoff Results Head coach
W L PCT
KFÍ
1993–1994 Division II Won Finals (Þór Þorlákshöfn, 1–0)
Promoted do Division I
Geir Þorsteinsson
1994–1995 Division I 3rd (Group 1) 15 5 .750 Did not qualify Geir Þorsteinsson
1995–1996 Division I 2nd 12 4 .750 Won Semifinals (ÍS, 2–0)
Won Finals (Þór Þorlákshöfn, 2–1)
Promoted to Úrvalsdeild
Guðjón Þorsteinsson
1996–1997 Úrvalsdeild 9th 9 13 .409 Did not qualify Guðni Guðnason
1997–1998 Úrvalsdeild 5th 13 9 .591 Lost Quarterfinals (Njarðvík, 1–2) Guðni Guðnason
1998–1999 Úrvalsdeild 3rd 15 7 .682 Won Quarterfinals (Tindastóll, 2–0)
Lost Semifinals (Njarðvík, 1–2)
Tony Garbelotto
1999–2000 Úrvalsdeild 10th 7 15 .318 Did not qualify Tony Garbelotto
2000–2001 Úrvalsdeild 12th 4 18 .182 Did not qualify
Relegated to Division I
Karl Jónsson
2001–2002 Division I 3rd 12 6 .667 Lost Semifinals (Snæfell, 0–2) Hrafn Kristjánsson and
Baldur Jónasson
2002–2003 Division I 1st 14 2 .875 Won Semifinals (Ármann/Þróttur, 2–1)
Won Finals (Þór Þorlákshöfn, 1–0)
Promoted to Úrvalsdeild karla
Hrafn Kristjánsson
2003–2004 Úrvalsdeild 10th 6 16 .273 Did not qualify Hrafn Kristjánsson
2004–2005 Úrvalsdeild 12th 2 20 .091 Did not qualify
Relegated to Division I
Baldur Jónasson
2005–2006 Division I 7th 6 12 .333 Did not qualify Baldur Jónasson
2006–2007 Division I 6th 5 9 .357 Did not qualify Baldur Jónasson (0–3)
Borce Ilievski (5–6)
2007–2008 Division I 6th 8 10 .444 Did not qualify Borce Ilievski
2008–2009 Division I 5th 11 7 .611 Lost Semifinals (Valur, 1–2) Borce Ilievski
2009–2010 Division I 1st 16 2 .889 Promoted to Úrvalsdeild Borce Ilievski
2010–2011 Úrvalsdeild 12th 5 17 .227 Did not qualify
Relegated to Division I
B.J. Aldridge (2–6)
Neil Shiran Þórisson (3–11)
2011–2012 Division I 1st 17 1 .944 Promoted to Úrvalsdeild Pétur Már Sigurðsson
2012–2013 Úrvalsdeild 10th 6 16 .273 Did not qualify Pétur Már Sigurðsson
2013–2014 Úrvalsdeild 11th 4 18 .182 Did not qualify
Relegated to Division I
Birgir Örn Birgisson
2014–2015 Division I 7th 5 16 .238 Did not qualify Birgir Örn Birgisson
2015–2016 Division I 8th 4 14 .222 Did not qualify Birgir Örn Birgisson (3–10)
Neil Shiran Þórisson and
Guðni Guðnason (1–4)
Vestri
2016–2017 Division I 6th 8 16 .333 Did not qualify Yngvi Gunnlaugsson
2017–2018 Division I 4th 16 8 .667 Lost Semifinals (Breiðablik, 0–3) Yngvi Gunnlaugsson
2018–2019 Division I 5th 12 9 .571 Lost Semifinals (Fjölnir, 0–3) Yngvi Gunnlaugsson
2019–2020 Division I 4th 14 8 .636 Playoffs canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak.1 Pétur Már Sigurðsson
2020–2021 Division I 4th 9 7 .563 Won Quarterfinals (Fjölnir, 2–0)
Won Semifinals (Skallagrímur, 3–0)
Won Finals (Hamar, 3–1)
Promoted to Úrvalsdeild
Pétur Már Sigurðsson
2021–2022 Úrvalsdeild 11th 4 18 .182 Did not qualify
Relegated to Division I
Pétur Már Sigurðsson
2020–2021 Division I 4th 9 7 .563 Won Quarterfinals (Fjölnir, 2–0)
Won Semifinals (Skallagrímur, 3–0)
Won Finals (Hamar, 3–1)
Promoted to Úrvalsdeild
Pétur Már Sigurðsson
2022–2023 2. deild 2nd 16 4 .800 Lost Semifinals (Snæfell, 0–1) Pétur Már Sigurðsson

Notes
1With two games left, the team had already secured the 3rd seed in the promotion playoffs when the rest of the season and playoffs was canceled.
[15]

Trophies and awards

Trophies

Awards

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Records (Úrvalsdeild karla only)

Reserve team

Vestri has a men's reserve team that plays in the amateur level Icelandic 4th-tier 3. deild karla, called Vestri-b and nicknamed Flaggskipið (English: The Flagship).[18] In 2018 it was the runner-up to the 3. deild championship.[19][20]

Season by season

Season Tier League Pos. W–L Playoffs Icelandic Cup
2015–16 4 3. deild karla 2nd 10–3 Semi-finals DNP
2017–18 4 3. deild karla 2nd 8–4 Runner-up 1st Round
2018–19 4 3. deild karla 4th 7–7 DNQ 1st Round
2019–20 4 3. deild karla 9th 3–7 N/A DNP
2020–21 4 3. deild karla 1st 3–0 N/A DNP

References

  1. Stjórn körfuknattleiksdeildar
  2. "Þrjú jöfn í Keflavík". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 15 March 1983. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  3. "Aftur jafnt í 2. deild". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 29 March 1983. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  4. "Úrslit í 4. sinn í 2. deild í körfu". Tíminn (in Icelandic). 28 April 1983. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  5. Samúel Örn Erlingsson (3 May 1983). "Að lokum fóru Laugdælir upp". Tíminn (in Icelandic). p. 11. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  6. "Keppt í nýja íþróttahúsinu á Ísafirði um veglegan Íslandsbikar". Vestfirska fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 28 April 1994. p. 7. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  7. "KFÍ sigraði í 2. deild". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 5 May 1994. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. "Clifton Bush lék í 59 mínútur". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 19 October 1999. p. B3. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  9. Mörg met féllu í DHL höllinni
  10. Íþróttafélagið Vestri
  11. Sturla Stígsson (16 December 2018). "Vestri sló Hauka óvænt úr bikarnum". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  12. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (17 December 2018). "Blokkpartý hjá Vestra í sigrinum óvænta á Haukum". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  13. Helgi Hrafn Ólafsson (12 June 2021). "Vestri á leið í úrvalsdeild karla – Ísfirðingar unnu Hamarsmenn í leik 4". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  14. Men's coaches
  15. Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (18 March 2020). "Körfuboltatímabilið blásið af - Engir Íslandsmeistarar". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  16. 1. deild karla
  17. 2. deild karla
  18. Sturla Stígsson (4 November 2018). "Hamar lagði Flaggskipið fyrir Vestan". Karfan.is. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  19. "Álftanes Íslandsmeistarar". karfan.is (in Icelandic). 14 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  20. "Vestri-B tryggði sér silfrið í 3. deild". Bæjarins Besta (in Icelandic). 16 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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