On Friday evening, in front of a raucous Islander home crowd, MI defeated the Liberty Patriots 50 to 31, and moved into sole possession of first place in KingCo 2A/3A .   The Islanders were sparked in the first half by junior Nigel Seda's trifecta of three pointers, and through their collective defensive effort.  MI took a 23-14 lead into halftime, and extended the lead in the third and fourth quarters.  In the second half, MI  stayed connected on the defensive end, and worked the offensive glass to produce additional possessions and scoring opportunities.   The deep Islander squad again posted a balanced box score, with Seda and sophomore David Pickles leading the way with 11 points each, followed by junior Adam Parker's 10, and freshman Chris Clark's 8 points.  

Coach Cree's Islanders are only allowing 41.1 points in league contests, and this commitment on the defensive end enabled the Islanders to dispatch two strong league rivals, Bellevue and Liberty, by near identical scores, 51-32 and 50-31, respectively. 

The Islanders next action is on the road at Juanita, next Friday night, January 18 at 8 pm.  Go Islanders!

On Tuesday evening, In a key mid-season conference match-up, Mercer Island (5-1 Kingco, 10-4 Overall) prevailed over Bellevue 51 to 32.  The Islanders started quickly in the first quarter, taking a 14 to 9 lead, and then extended the lead to 33 to 13 at the half.  Bellevue came out strong in the third quarter to cut the MI advantage by four, but the Islanders held firm in the fourth quarter for the win.  Senior William Lee and Junior Luke Wenzel led the balanced Islander attack with 11 each.  Junior Adam Parker netted 10 points and Sophomore David Pickles scored 8 for the Islanders.  MI hosts Liberty on Friday evening, and will look to avenge its early season loss to the Patriots.  

The Islanders (KingCo 4-1, 9-4 overall) stepped out of conference on Saturday night for a 59 to 40 win over the Newport Knights.  MI sprinted to an early lead and carried a 32 to 16 advantage into half-time.  MI was led by William Lee with 16 points, David Pickles with 14, and Lukas Varney added 6.  Senior James Kirkmire topped off the  Islander scoring with a drive and finish at the buzzer. 

MI goes back to work (in  the classroom) and in KingCo this week  -- as they host league leading Bellevue (KingCo 5-0, 9-3 overall)  on Tuesday night at 7:15 pm, and host Liberty (KingCo 5-1, 9-4 overall) on Friday evening at 8 pm.    

Come out and support the Islanders at home this week  against strong KingCo competition.   

The Islanders (4-1 KingCo, 8-4 overall) traveled south to Palm Springs, CA and faced tough competition in the 2018 Rancho Mirage Holiday Tournament.  

In the first game on Wednesday, December 26, MI defeated Cimarron-Memorial from Las Vegas, Nevada by the score of 66 to 64.  The Islanders were led by Adam Parker with 19, Lukas Varney and David Pickles with 12 each, and William Lee with 11.  MI built a 15 point cushion at half time, and then held off  a fourth quarter rally from the Spartans.  

Game two on Thursday took on an international flair, as MI faced  off against Urspring, Germany.   The physical contest featured 45 fouls, with both teams wearing out a path to the free throw line.  Urspring led for three quarters but the Islanders closed hard in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 3 for 4.6 seconds remaining.  In the end, Urspring prevailed 52 to 45.  Adam Parker led MI with 12 points, followed by Nate Wenzel with 9 and Nigel Seda with 6.  

Game three on Thursday --  where MI played Great Oak ,CA  -- was another defensive battle, which found the Islanders coming from behind to take the lead  at the end of the third quarter 31 to 29.  The fourth quarter featured key three pointers from William Lee, Tyler Butson and Chris Clark, but  the Wolfpack from Great Oak prevailed in the end 48 to 45. 

In the final game on Friday, MI faced Beverly Hills, CA in another tight, defensive struggle that  was not resolved until overtime.  Both teams started slowly in the first half, but the Islanders came out strong in the third quarter to build their first lead of the game at 27 to 25.  In the third quarter, Luke Wenzel connected for 7 points and William Lee drained two shots  beyond the arc.  Beverly Hills tied the contest at 38  at the end of regulation, and then prevailed in overtime 46 to 38.   William Lee led MI with 11, followed by Adam Parker with 10 and Luke Wenzel with 7.  Congratulations to Islanders William Lee and Adam Parker who were named to the all-tournament team. 

While the Islanders concluded the tournament with one win against three losses, the tough competition should have MI ready for a key week of KingCo action after the break -- as the Islanders host rival Bellevue on Tuesday, January 8, and Liberty on Friday, January 11.   

Prior to rivalry week, the Islanders step out of conference on Saturday, January 5 and travel to Newport to face the 4A Knights.  

The Islanders (4-1 KingCo, and 7-1 overall) returned to road action this past week, registering two league wins against Sammamish on Tuesday night 44-30, and Lake Washington 62-50 on Friday night.  

In the Tuesday night contest, MI and the Totems of Sammamish  both started slowly, but the Islanders took control of the contest in the second quarter and  did not look back.   Juniors Adam Parker and NIgel Seda led  MI with 14 and 13 points, respectively.  Nate Wenzel posted 7 points and William Lee and David Pickles added 5 points each for MI. 

In the Friday night quad game at Lake Washington,  the Islanders defeated a solid, senior led Kang team.  Nigel Seda  showed his versatility throughout the contest, effectively driving to the hoop  and connecting from distance to total 21 points.  Adam Parker also recorded 14 points for the Islanders.  MI also welcomed the return of senior Rainier McDonald  to the lineup, as McDonald drained his first two shots and totaled 7 points on the evening.   Lukas Varney and Teague Conder also added 6 points, and William Lee and David Pickles registered 4 each for the Islanders.   Nick Strasburg led the Kangs with 13 points, and Torin Montgomery added 10 for LW. 

The Islanders next travel to Palm Springs, CA for the Rancho Mirage Tournament against strong West Coast competition.  

The MI Varsity (2-1 KingCo, 5-1 Overall), recorded two  conference home wins this past week, 56-49 over Juanita on Tuesday night, and 57-36 over Interlake on Friday evening. 

On Tuesday, Coach Gavin Cree’s Islanders registered a hard-fought win against Coach Justin Mezistrano’s always prepared Rebels of Juanita.  The two teams traded baskets in a scrappy first half that ended in a 21 all tie.  MI extended their defensive pressure in the third quarter and found buckets attacking the rim and offensive glass to take a five point advantage into the fourth quarter.  In the pivotal third quarter, Adam Parker netted 8, Nate Wentzel 4, William Lee 3 and David Pickles 2.  In the fourth, both teams heated up offensively, with the Rebels draining three trifectas, only to be matched by the Islanders’ William Lee’s two shots from distance and a conventional “and-one” from Teague Conder.  In the second half, the deep Islander squad created foul issues for Juanita and Adam Parker converted 5 of 6 from the line in the fourth quarter to top off his game-leading 20 point outing.  William Lee totaled 14 (with 4 triples) and Nigel Seda added 7.  The Rebels were led by Cameron Knowles’ 17 and Ryan Trautmann’s 13. 

On Friday night, the Islanders celebrated the 1999 State Championship Team, led by Hall of Fame Coach Ed Pebble, with a conference win over the Saints of Interlake 57 to 36.  Both teams battled to an 8 to 8 tie after the first quarter, but MI extended the lead into halftime at 23 to 13, with David Pickles scoring six in the quarter.  In the third stanza, the Islanders stepped up their defense with Lukas Varney and Nigel Seda applying pressure on the perimeter, holding the Saints to seven shot attempts and extending the lead to 36 to 22.  In the fourth quarter, Luke Wenzel further sparked MI with 11 points.  The balanced Islander attack (nine players scored) was led by Adam Parker with 13, followed by Luke Wenzel’s 12 and William Lee’s 11. 

The Islanders take to the road this week in KingCo action, facing the Totems of Sammamish on Tuesday (7:15 pm AWAY tip), and the Kangs of Lake Washington on Friday (8 pm AWAY – Quad games). 

For all home games, be sure to the tune in for live broadcasts on 88.9 The Bridge (KMIH).  Student broadcasters Max Tanzer, William Mulflur and Nathan Buchanan, among others, provide crisp commentary of Girls and Boys Varsity home games under the leadership of Joe Bryant.  The teams also thank announcer Aaron Kornblum for his continued support, along with the Islander “Animal Band”, Cheerleaders and Drill Team in creating a great home court advantage. 

The Islanders headed South on Tuesday to take on league rival Liberty, and pointed the bus North on I-5 on Friday,  to test their mettle against the State 3A No. 10 rated Tomahawks of Marysville-Pilchuck. 

On Tuesday,  the Islanders were defeated by Liberty, 60 to 52, as Jake Elfstrom netted 31 for the Patriots.  MI jumped to an early lead in the first quarter, but could not maintain that momentum .  Liberty took a one point lead into the half with a buzzer beating three pointer, and extended their lead to six after three at  44 to 38.   MI fought back to tie the game at 50, but could not  complete the comeback.  Joe Gormley and Adam Parker led the balanced Islander attack with 12 each, William Lee added 10 and David Pickles 7.  

The Friday night game at Marysville-Pilchuck was an early season match up of Seattle Times top 10 teams (MI currently 9th in 3A).   The Tomahawks feature University of Washington commit, 6'-4" shooting guard, RaeQuan Battle, and in this first home game created a loud and raucous environment for the Islanders.    

The T'hawks fed off the crowd energy early to take a five point lead after the first quarter, and then  maintained a four point lead into the half at 23 to 19.   Islander newcomer Nigel Seda  sparked the Islanders in the first half with a mid-court steal from Battle and a high-flying finish . 

The Islanders grinded their way to a tie at 33 after three quarters.  In the fourth quarter, the Islanders again executed down the stretch.  William Lee and Teague Conder hit big threes, and Adam Parker found the hoop from the floor and free throw line.  Nate Wenzel  also converted clutch free throws, going ten of ten from the line for the game.  In the end, the Islanders prevailed 54 to 50.  The balanced Islander attack was led by Conder and Wenzel, with 10 each, followed by Parker and Lee with 9 a piece, Seda with 6, Luke Wenzel  and David Pickles with 4, and Lukas Varney  with 2.    Battle led Marysville-Pilchuck with 21.     

This week the Islanders host two KingCo contests -- Tuesday with Juantia and Friday against Interlake.    On Friday night,  Mercer Island Basketball also celebrates its awesome alumni  -- including the 1999 State Champion team.  Come out and  support the Islanders this week!.     

The 2018-19 Islanders opened the season  with two weekend  wins against 4A  Issaquah and Eastlake. 

In the Friday night quad-game finale, MI prevailed 70-57 against  the Issaquah Eagles.  The Islanders  stepped up their defense in the second half, and  consistently found 6'-8" sophomore David Pickles in the low post for 11 second half points.  Junior Joe Gormley displayed a deft shooting touch from beyond the arc and led all  scorers with 18. 

With a short turnaround time, the Islanders tipped off against the Eastlake Wolves on Saturday night.   In a hard-fought contest, MI prevailed  64-59 in Overtime.  Eastlake took a two point lead into half-time, and stretched their advantage to eight with about 4 minutes  left in regulation.  The  Islanders stepped up their defensive intensity to force turnovers and executed on  each possession and  tied the game at 54 at the buzzer on Junior Nate Wenzel 's clutch rebound and stick back.  In Overtime it was all-Islanders as Senior Will Lee tallied  6 of his 13 points and  Junior Adam Parker scored four of his game-high 24 points.  The young, athletic Eastlake squad was led by sophomore Casey Jones 15 points (13 in the second half).  

The Islanders go on the road this week for their first conference game against rival Liberty on Tuesday, and clash  with out of conference  state-ranked Marysville-Pilchuck on  Friday.  

Welcome to another season of exciting Islander basketball!  After a season where the team battled through injuries and adversity to claim a third place Kingco finish and a berth in the district tournament, the boys in maroon and white are back at it again with a more seasoned squad of competitors who will vie for the Kingco title and a berth to the state tournament once again.  Along the way, the Islanders will focus on competing with each other in practice and improving each day.  Our emphasis this season will be to live the Islander Way, focusing on our core values as a program and letting the results take care of themselves. 

Departed from 2018 are captains Griffin Emanuels and Ethan Eason along with fellow grads Giovanni Cervantes-Rocha and Reid Martinez.  This group will be missed for their leadership and commitment to the program, but they have set the stage for the 2019 season, which returns 8 lettermen from last season.  The team is led by captains William Lee (senior) and Teague Conder (senior). William returns for his third letter, while Teague is back for his second.  Both players finished last season in the starting backcourt, which provides a steadying force this season.  These two veterans are surrounded by a vast group of hungry competitors, both veterans and newcomers, who are anxious to make their mark on the Varsity floor. 

In the front court, the Islanders will boast a deep group of hard-working forwards who will need to anchor the team on the offensive and defensive ends.  Rainer McDonald, returning for his third letter, brings experience to the group.  David Pickles, a sophomore returning starter, will work alongside juniors Nate and Luke Wenzel, who got some experience last season.  Forward James Kirkmire, a senior up from the JV, rounds out the group. 

On the perimeter, the Islanders will feature a group of four juniors in returning lettermen Joe Gormley, Adam Parker and Lukas Varney, in addition to transfer student Nigel Seda.  All four athletes bring great defensive qualities to the team with their length and athleticism.  On the offensive side, they each bring a unique skill set that will prove important for the squad. 

In addition to the experience provided by Lee and Conder, the Islander backcourt features two young newcomers who will begin the season swinging between Varsity and JV, in sophomore Tyler Butson and freshman Chris Clark.  Both guards help to push our veterans in practice and are quickly gaining the trust of teammates and coaches. 

The strength of this Islander team lies in its experienced backcourt and the talented young players who have the opportunity to emerge as the season unfolds.   The coaching staff expects to see growth and maturity throughout the season.  Offensively, the ball will pop around the floor and the defense will be more aggressive due to the length, depth and overall athleticism of the team.  With a tough early season non-league schedule and a challenging holiday trip to Palm Springs, the squad will be tested early, preparing themselves for the stretch run.  By season’s end, this Islander squad will be poised for an opportunity to win the Kingco banner and move on to the districts and state. 

If Varsity at 8 pm, then  JV at 5 pm; and if Varsity at 7:15 pm, then JV at 5:40 pm.  

Congratulations to the 2017-18 Islanders and Seniors Griffin Emanuels (Co-Captain), Ethan Eason (Co-Captain), Giovanni Rocha and Reid Martinez.  The team battled all season and finished in third place in KingCo with a record of 8 wins, 6 losses, and played a challenging non-conference and playoff schedule to finish the year with an overall record of 12 wins and 12 losses.  

Congratulations to the following Islanders for KingCo honors: 

Senior, Griffin Emanuels, 1st Team 2A/3A All KingCo and named Defensive MVP for KingCo 2A/3A for the second consecutive year;
Senior, Giovanni Cervantes-Rocha, and Junior William Lee, both named 2A/3A KingCo Honorable Mention.
 

The Islander JV team (3-4 KingCo, 8-6 Overall)  plays at Juanita, Friday, Jan. 18 at 5 pm.  The JV are on a two game win streak, having downed Liberty 47-46, and Kentlake 60-33 in the last two contests. 

The MI Freshman team (2-3 KingCo, 6-5 Overall), just defeated West Seattle 63-22,  and next tips off at Juanita, Thursday, Jan. 17 at 3:45 pm.  

LITTLE DRIBBLERS -- Resumes Play Saturday, January 12 

The Little Dribblers program has a rich 50-year history of connecting generations of passionate Islander hoopsters. Open to players of any ability, the program is run by MIHS Head Coach Gavin Cree and his high school players. Get your boys on the court each Saturday as they are coached and mentored by the MIHS high school players. All proceeds go to benefit MIHS boys’ basketball. All 5th - 8th grade select players are automatically registered.

Remaining Dates:  January 12th at Mercer Island High School, then Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 at Islander Middle School

Schedule:

2nd, 3rd and 4th graders 9:00 am - 10:00 am

5th and 6th graders 10:00 am - 11:00 am

7th, 8th and 9th graders 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

To register:  https://mibasketball.sportngin.com/register/form/373716814
 

Thanks to  the generous contributions of our MI basketball community, including your membership with the MI basketball booster club, scholarships are available for the upcoming Boys Basketball Select Season.  Stay tuned for tryout dates in the Fall. 

Our scholarship application form is below.  If you are interested, please download the form and send to mibbbcscholarship@gmail.com

Go Islanders!