One last note about basketball, with a few of the MIHS players taking part in various post season games this weekend.

Hannah Lilly has committed to play as part of tomorrow nights All-State girls basketball team. She’s the only member of the girls team, who finished sixth at state this year, to play in the all-state game. It will be at Seattle Christian High School, sponsored by the state’s coaches association, with the 3A/4A game starting at 7 p.m. The cost is $7 for adult and $4 for students. Kids under 10 are free.

Also on Saturday, several players from MI will have the chance to take part in the second annual Comcast All-Star Challenge at 4 p.m., this Friday at Bellevue College. On the underclassmen navy team Haley Gullstad and Jae Shin will represent the Islanders, while Lilly will play for the senior team. On the boys side Kaj Sherman will play for the seniors, while Quinn Sterling and Brian Miller will play on the underclassmen team.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students with ASB and seniors. The games will also be available 48 hours after the event on Games Comcast’s On Demand.

The Mercer Island girls basketball team – who earned a first round bye in the district tournament – will be playing Lakeside tomorrow night starting at 6:30 p.m. at Bellevue College.

The girls, who had to top seed going into the tournament, are searching for one of the four state berths given to the KingCo and Metro league teams.

If the girls win on Friday night they will move into the semi-finals on March 2. Here’s a breakdown on the possibilities:

With a win: girls advance to 8:15 p.m. March 2 semi-final at Bellevue College. They will play either Nathan Hale or Seattle Prep (whoever wins)

With a loss: girls move into consolation bracket and play the loser of the Nathan Hale/Seattle Prep game. If the girls lose at any point after this they will be done for the season.

Also still alive in the girls tournament is Juanita, who will play Holy Names and Bellevue who goes up against Cleveland.

The championship game will be held March 6 at Bellevue College. The top four teams from this tournament advance to the state tournament in Tacoma March 10-13.

Now that teams have finished their regular season games the KingCo basketball bracket and schedule is pretty much set to go. Both the Mercer Island teams made the cut for the league tournament, which starts Tuesday night at higer seeded schools.

Boys tournament

The MI boys will play Tuesday, against Juanita at MIHS starting at 7 p.m. in a loser out game.

“Tuesday’s Kingco playoff game versus Juanita is a loser out game and you can throw the records out.  They are going to come in and play hard and they have some dangerous weapons.  We can’t be looking ahead,” said boys head coach Gavin Cree after Thursday’s home win over Mount Si.

Sammamish will take on Liberty in the No. 4/No. 5 game at Sammamish on Tuesday. The winner of the Mercer Island/Juanita game will play Mount Si at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18 at Bellevue College, while Bellevue, the No. 1 boys seed, will take on the winner of the Sammamish/Liberty game.

Girls tournament

Mercer Island earned a bye in the first round after clinching the KingCo title, heading into the tournament as No. 1. They will play on Thursday night at Bellevue College at 8:15 p.m. against the winner of the Liberty/Mount Si game which takes place Tuesday night.

For the rest of the KingCo teams, Tuesday is the big day with Juanita hosting Interlake and Mount Si hosting Liberty. The winner of the Juanita/Interlake game will play Bellevue on Thursday evening.

Championship round

The KingCo tournament will finish up on Friday, Feb. 19 at Bellevue College. The 3rd/4th place boys game will be at 3 p.m. Friday, with the 3rd/4th girls tipping off at 4:45 p.m.

The boys championship will be at 6:30 p.m. and the girls is scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m.

Prices

Due to the fact this is a league tournament students will not be able to get into games free with their ASB cards (as they can throughout the regular season). Here’s the price breakdown from KingCo:

Adult/students without ASB       $6.00
Students (with ASB)                     $4.00
Children K-8                                  $4.00
Pre-school                                      N/C
Senior Citizens (60 yrs +)           $4.00

Here are the week 10 basketball rankings. A few notes before diving into the rankings  – The MI girls jumped up a spot to No. 3 this week, and last night were confirmed as KingCo champs again this year. Bellevue lost to Mount Si, clearing the way for the Islanders.

The Bellevue boys, ranked No. 2 this week, will likely/possibly drop next week after Tuesday night’s loss to Mount Si, who are ranked No. 6 right now. The shake-up could definitely make next week’s KingCo tournament an interesting one!

Class 4A boys
1. Federal Way (19-1)
2. Gonzaga Prep (17-1)
3. Curtis (19-1)
4. Richland (16-3)
5. Jackson (16-2)
6. Walla Walla (16-3)
7. Kamiakin (15-4)
8. Skyline (15-3)
9. Garfield (14-4)
10. Lake Stevens
Others receiving votes: Davis (15-4), Eastlake (13-5), Decatur (14-6), Bellarmine Prep (14-6)

Class 4A girls
1. Auburn Riverside (20-0)
2. Woodinville (17-1)
3. Issaquah (15-3)
4. Federal Way (17-3)
5. Chiawana (16-2)
6. Edmonds-Woodway (18-1)
7. Newport (16-2)
8. Jackson (16-3)
9. Bellarmine Prep (14-6)
10. Kentwood (16-4)
Others receiving votes: Richland (15-4), Bethel (16-4), Marysville-Pilchuck (15-5), Mount Tahoma (17-3)

Class 3A boys
1. Enumclaw (18-0)
2. Bellevue (17-1)
3. Rainier Beach (15-3)
4. Seattle Prep (14-4)
5. Lakes (15-3)
6. Mount Si (14-4)
7. Capital (16-1)
8. Shadle Park (14-4)
9. Meadowdale (14-4)
10. O’Dea (13-6)
Others receiving votes: Mead (13-5), Bremerton (11-4), Kennedy Catholic (13-6), Franklin Pierce (12-5), Foster (13-5)

Class 3A girls
1. Holy Names (17-2)
2. Kennedy Catholic (16-2)
3. Mercer Island (14-4)
4. White River (15-3)
5. Bonney Lake (15-4)
6. Port Angeles (15-2)
7. Mount Rainier (15-3)
8. Prarie (14-4)
9. Lakes (12-6)
10. Central Valley (14-4)
Others receiving votes: West Valley (12-6), Bellevue (12-6), Olympic (13-4), Yelm (13-5), Shorecrest (13-6), Capital (13-5), Seattle Prep (11-6)

Here is the Week 9 basketball poll. Things are starting to cement as the post-season draws closer – at least in the top spots. Although I will say teams who lose at this point are likely to fall far, as was the case with Issaquah, who went from No. 2 in the 4A girls poll all the way down to No. 4. The Newport girls hung tough, edging up to the vacant No. 2 spot.

Bellevue is still dominating the 3A boys league, locally and across the state with a perfect Enumclaw team their only obstacle to No. 1. Tonight the Wolverine’s host the Mercer Island boys and tomorrow the Mercer Island girls, who stayed in No. 4 travel to take on Bellevue.

As the post-season gets closer – who do you think will be moving up or down as the season continues? Thoughts/comments? Let me know!

Class 4A boys
1. Federal Way (16-1)
2. Gonzaga Prep (16-1)
3. Curtis (17-1)
4. Jackson (15-1)
5. Walla Walla (15-2)
6. Kamiakin (12-3)
7. Richland (14-3)
8. Skyline (13-3)
9. Lake Stevens (13-4)
10. Garfield (12-4)
Others receiving votes: Beamer (13-5), Decatur (13-6)

Class 4A girls
1. Auburn Riverside (18-0)
2. Newport (15-1)
3. Woodinville (15-1)
4. Issaquah (13-3)
5. Federal Way (15-4)
6. Edmonds-Woodway (15-1)
7. Chiawana (16-1)
8. Jackson (13-3)
9. Kentwood (14-4)
10. Wenatchee (11-4)
Others receiving votes: South Kitsap (13-5), Richland (13-4), Mount Tahoma (16-3), Marysville-Pilchuck (13-4), Bethel (14-4)

Class 3A boys
1. Enumclaw (16-0)
2. Bellevue  (16-1)
3. Rainier Beach (13-3)
4. Seattle Prep (14-3)
5. Lakes (14-2)
6. Mount Si (12-4)
7. Capital (14-1)
8. Shadle Park (12-4)
9. Meadowdale (13-3)
10. O’Dea (12-5)
Others receiving votes: Bremerton (10-4), Mount Rainier (11-5), Franklin Pierce (10-5)

Class 3A girls
1. Holy Names (15-2)
2. Kennedy Catholic (14-3)
3. White River (15-2)
4. Mercer Island (13-3)
5. Bonney Lake (13-4)
6. Port Angeles (13-2)
7. Mount Rainier (14-2)
8. Yelm (12-4)
9. Sumner (11-5)
10. Lakeside (11-6)
Others receiving votes: Central Valley (12-4), Shorecrest (11-5), Prarie (13-3), West Valley (11-4)

Here’s the latest basketball poll as voted on by sports writers in the Reporter Newspaper group.

Class 4A boys
1. Federal Way (13-1)
2. Gonzaga Prep (13-1)
3. Curtis (15-1)
4. Jackson (13-1)
5. Walla Walla (13-2)
6. Richland (13-2)
7. Skyline (12-2)
8. Kamiakin (12-3)
9. Lake Stevens (11-4)
10. Decatur (11-5)
Others receiving votes: Kentridge (11-5), Garfield (10-4), Foss (11-4), Lake Washington (11-3)

Class 4A girls
1. Auburn Riverside (16-0)
2. Issaquah (13-1)
3. Newport (13-1)
4. Woodinville (13-1)
5. Edmonds-Woodway (13-1)
6. Federal Way (12-3)
7. Chiawana (12-1)
8. Jackson (12-2)
9. Marysville-Pilchuck (12-3)
10. Kentwood (11-4)
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine Prep (11-5), Mount Tahoma (13-3), Lewis and Clark (9-5)

Class 3A boys
1. Enumclaw (14-0)
2. Bellevue (14-1)
3. Rainier Beach (12-3)
4. Seattle Prep (12-3)
5. Lakes (10-4)
6. O’Dea (11-4)
7. Mount Si (11-4)
8. Shadle Park (10-3)
9. Capital (12-1)
10. Foster (11-3)
Others receiving votes: Sammamish (11-4), Meadowdale (11-3), Franklin (7-7), Kennedy Catholic (10-5)

Class 3A girls
1. Holy Names (13-2)
2. Kennedy Catholic (12-3)
3. White River (12-2)
4. Mercer Island (11-3)
5. Lakes (10-4)
6. Mount Rainier (12-2)
7. Bonney Lake (11-4)
8. Yelm (11-4)
9. Port Angeles (12-2)
10. Sumner (10-4)
Others receiving votes: Shorecrest (9-4), Seattle Prep (10-4), Juanita (10-5), Shadle Park (8-5), Lakeside (9-6)

This was just passed along to me from MIHS Athletic coordinator Ann Meisner about Friday’s dedication of the MI gym to former boys head coach Ed Pepple. On the night the Islanders host league rival Bellevue the community is going to get a chance to say thanks for Pepple’s many years of service.

The school is expecting the gym to be standing room only for the event, which will take place between the girls and boys varsity games Friday night. The girls tip off at 6:30 p.m. and sometime likely between 7:50 and 8:15 p.m. the ceremony will start, which Meisner said they expect to last 15 to 20 minutes.

The presentation is going to include Pete Nordstrom, of the Mercer Island basketball alumni group, Gary Plano, MISD’s superintendent, Janet Frohnmayer, MISD board member, Craig Olson, MIHS athletic director and Pepple. During the ceremony the gym will be dedicated and a plaque will be present to Pepple.

Following the ceremony the varsity boys teams will have 15 minutes of warm up in the main gym and approximately between 8:25 and 8:45 p.m. the boys game will start.

Because the school is expecting so many people there will be two ticket selling stations for the evening and those who plan to attend either the games or the ceremony are encouraged to arrive early and plan for a crowd. There is no pre-sale of tickets for the evening. Parking is available at any of the high school lots, as well as parking in the neighborhood around the high school.

Meisner also said the concession stand (featuring pizza, soda, water and snacks) will open at 5:30 p.m., but that only water is allowed in the gym, so tables and chairs will be available in the commons for people to eat.

Should make for not only a good night of basketball, but a great chance to see the school and community thank Pepple for all his work.

After what feels like much more than a week off here’s our latest basketball poll. The 4A boys stayed pretty much the same, with the exception of Lake Washington jumping from the ‘other’ category to No. 5 with a 7-1 record. In 4A girls Newport jumped up to No. 2, staying undefeated after defeating Mercer Island last week in a non-conference match up. Lewis and Clark fell from No. 2 all the way down to No. 6 after two straight losses during the break. The boys of Rainier Beach in the 3A poll fell from No. 1 to No. 3 after going 1-3 over the break (which coincidentally is the same record the MIHS boys had over the holidays – except they haven’t made the poll yet). So undefeated Enumclaw and Bellevue take the top two spots. The Mercer Island girls stayed in the No. 6 spot for the 3A girls, White River and Kennedy Catholic  swapped the No. 2 and 3 positions, while Holy Names stayed firmly in the top place.

This Friday the Islanders will be taking on Bellevue, both girls and boys teams. It will be a good chance to check out the Wolverines undefeated boys team and to see Aaron Bright in action, and another conference test for the girls. Tip off is 6:30 p.m.

Week Five Basketball Poll

The Reporter Newspapers Basketball Poll is voted on by members of various Reporter Newspapers across the state.
Class 4A
1. Federal Way (7-0)
2. Jackson (7-0)
3. Curtis (10-0)
4. Gonzaga Prep (7-1)
5. Lake Washington (7-1)
6. Decatur (7-2)
7. Foss (7-2)
8. Kamiakin (8-0)
9. Richland (7-0)
10. Walla Walla (6-2)
Others who receiving votes: Lake Stevens (6-3), Kentridge (7-3), Skyline (6-1), Davis (6-1)

Class 4A girls
1. Auburn Riverside (9-0)
2. Newport (8-0)
3. Woodinville (8-0)
4. Issaquah (7-1)
5. Kentwood (6-2)
6. Lewis and Clark (5-3)
7. Federal Way (6-2)
8. Kentlake (8-0)
9. Edmonds-Woodway (6-1)
10. Monroe (8-1)
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine Prep (5-3), Jackson (6-1), Garfield (4-3)

Class 3A boys
1. Enumclaw (7-0)
2. Bellevue (10-0)
3. Rainier Beach (5-3)
4. Mount Si (7-2)
5. Lakes (6-1)
6. Shadle Park (7-2)
7. Seattle Prep (6-3)
8. O’Dea (7-2)
9. Bainbridge (6-2)
10. Union (5-3)
Others receiving votes: Capital (6-1), Foster (6-2), Shorecrest (5-2), Cascade (6-2), Hudson’s Bay (6-1), Hazen (7-2)

Class 3A girls
1. Holy Names (8-2)
2. White River (7-1)
3. Kennedy Catholic (6-2)
4. Lakes (6-2)
5. Bonney Lake (7-2)
6. Mercer Island (7-3)
7. Shadle Park (6-3)
8. Prarie (7-3)
9. Mount Rainier (7-1)
10. Cleveland (4-2)
Others receiving votes: Ferndale (4-2), Meadowdale (5-2), Mount Tahoma (8-2), Yelm (8-1)

The Reporter sports writers are taking a break from the basketball poll this week, not many new wins or losses in the last week to make any difference to our teams. Next week we’ll be back in full swing.

A big game to note however is tomorrow night the Mercer Island girls will take on Newport (who is currntly undefeated) at Newport (a change from the original schedule) starting at 7:30 p.m. While the team’s are not in the same classification anymore it used to be a big rivarly and still is a game both sides look forward to each year. I’ll be updating live from the event with scores etc. at MIRsports from Twitter if you want to follow along!

So tune in next week to see where the MI girls and boys fit into the state’s top 10 4A/3A girls and boys teams.

The latest poll is out, with a few changes, as most high school teams take a break for the holidays this week and next. There are still quite a few undefeated teams, except in the girls 3A poll, where none of the ranked teams are undefeated.

The MIHS girls bumped back up to 6th this week, after playing down in Arizona at the Nike Tournament of Champions over the weekend. Next week the girls return for their first game back in Washington, taking on undefeated Newport, in a game that will surely test both sides.

The Islander boys team made the other category this week. They whopped on Interlake last week, beating the Saints by 20 points, but had trouble against a strong O’Dea squad the weekend before. Their first home game back from the break will be Bellevue on Jan. 8

In the 4A boys poll Kentwood dropped from the poll completely, after the team continues to play without Josh Smith.

The Reporter Newspapers Basketball Poll is voted on by members of various Reporter Newspapers across the state.

Class 4A boys
1. Federal Way (7-0)
2. Jackson (6-0)
3. Gonzaga Prep (5-0)
4. Curtis (7-0)
5. Decatur (6-1)
6. Walla Walla (4-1)
7. Lake Stevens (6-0)
8. Foss (5-1)
9. Mead (5-1)
10. Davis (6-0)
Others receiving votes: Lake Washington (6-1), Kentridge (3-1), Richland (6-0)

Class 4A girls
1. Auburn Riverside (7-0)
2. Lewis and Clark (5-1)
3. Newport (7-0)
4. Issaquah (6-0)
5. Kentwood (6-1)
6. Woodinville (5-0)
7. Kentlake (7-0)
8. Edmonds-Woodway (5-1)
9. Bellarmine Prep (4-1)
10. Federal Way (5-2)
Others receiving votes: Jackson (5-1), South Kitsap (7-0), Monroe (6-1)

Class 3A boys
1. Rainier Beach (4-0)
2. Enumclaw (4-0)
3. Seattle Prep (6-1)
4. Bellevue (7-0)
5. Franklin (3-1)
6. Shorecrest (5-1)
7. O’Dea (5-2)
8. Lakes (5-1)
9. Mount Si (4-1)
10. Chief Sealth (2-1)
Others receiving votes; Shadle Park (5-1), Union (4-2), Mercer Island (3-2), Bainbridge (5-1), Lakeside (2-4), Evergreen (4-1)

Class 3A girls
1. Holy Names (7-1)
2. Kennedy Catholic (4-1)
3. White River (5-1)
4. Bonney Lake (6-1)
5. Lakes (6-1)
6. Mercer Island (4-1)
7. Prarie (6-2)
8. Lakeside (5-2)
9. Cleveland (4-2)
10. Shadle Park (4-2)
Others receiving votes: Bellevue (3-4), Mount Rainier (6-0), Chiawana (4-0), Ferndale (2-1), Meadowdale (4-2), Cleveland (4-2)