Youth Basketball

2022-2023 State Qualifiers

The 5th Grade ETL team qualified for the Washington State Basketball Championship by winning the Gold Division at the JBA Thanksgiving Classic on November 27th. The MI boys defeated Bellevue 37-35 in the championship game.

The 7th Grade ETL team qualified for the Washington State Basketball Championship by winning their division at The Wildcat Classic on November 20th. The MI boys went 5-0 over the weekend, beating Redmond 52-47 in an exciting championship game.

2022-2023 Youth Nights at MI Varsity Games

Friday, December 2nd, 2022 – 8:00 pm vs. Bellevue

Youth Night Kickoff

All MI youth basketball players receive free admission when wearing MI basketball apparel
Designated youth player seating in baseline bleachers, next to band
Youth Teams recognition during pre-game

Monday, December 12th, 2022 – 7:15 pm vs. Interlake

8th Grade Night – ETL and Cascade

8th Grade players attend pre-game meeting/coach speech in Varsity locker room
8th Grade players participate in pre-game tunnel for Varsity player gym entry
8th Grade players dedicated seating behind MI Varsity bench
8th Grade teams recognition at halftime of Varsity game

Monday, December 19th, 2022 – 7:15 pm vs. South Kitsap

7th Grade Night – ETL and Cascade

7th Grade players attend pre-game meeting/coach speech in Varsity locker room
7th Grade players participate in pre-game tunnel for Varsity player gym entry
7th Grade players dedicated seating behind MI Varsity bench
7th Grade teams recognition at halftime of Varsity game

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022 – 7:15 pm vs. Renton

6th Grade Night – ETL and Cascade

6th Grade players participate in pre-game tunnel for Varsity player gym entry
6th Grade players dedicated seating behind MI Varsity bench
6th Grade teams recognition at halftime of Varsity game
6th Grade players short scrimmage at halftime of Varsity game

Saturday, January 14th, 2023 – 5:30 pm vs. Lake Washington

Mid-Season Youth Night

Designated youth player seating section in baseline bleachers, next to band section
Youth Teams recognition during pre-game

Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 – 7:15 pm vs. Liberty

5th Grade Night – ETL and Cascade

5th Grade players participate in pre-game tunnel for Varsity player gym entry
5th Grade players dedicated seating behind MI Varsity bench
5th Grade teams recognition at halftime of Varsity game
5th Grade players short scrimmage at halftime of Varsity game

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Select Youth Basketball Teams

MI Boys Basketball Booster Club (MIBBBC) organizes select teams for 5th through 8th graders to compete in the ETL and PEAK leagues. To be eligible to try out and play for our teams players must either live on Mercer Island or go to the school on Mercer Island through a parent employed by MISD. Players for these teams are selected through a try out process and all interested players are encouraged to participate. All try-outs are held at Islander Middle School on dates and times announced shortly after start of school year. Team selection is based on many factors including, but not limited to, individual player development, team dynamic, player skills, potential, attitude, and effort. Making a team one year does not guarantee a player will make the team the next year. Historically there are roster changes from one year to the next. All players should attend both try-out dates for their grade level.

A brief description of the select teams is provided below.

Eastside Travel League Team (ETL)

ETL is the highest caliber of youth basketball available on the Island. ETL is the best choice for kids who are seeking more competitive play, are willing to prioritize the ETL team over other sports or teams during the basketball season, and are willing and able to devote material time to practices, training, games and tournaments. The ETL teams sponsored by MIBBBC typically have 12 players per team. Participants on an ETL team are not guaranteed equal playing time, but they will have fun, compete, and develop solid fundamental skills. Details vary by team/coach but ETL teams generally practice twice a week and play one home game and one away game on the weekends during the season, running December to March.

Cascade (PEAK) Team

The next highest caliber teams for each of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades play in the PEAK league organized by the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club. Cascade teams typically consist of 12 players who want to play competitive basketball, but are also pursuing interests in other sports, arts etc. during the season. These teams require a material commitment of time, but not as much as ETL.