This afternoon the Mercer Island boys basketball team will take on Mt. Si in the second round of the KingCo playoffs. They outlasted Juanita in a loser out game on Tuesday. Here are some of head coach Gavin Cree’s thoughts on Tuesday night and what the team needs to accomplish today.

“At half time we felt like Juanita had outhustled us.  We challenged the players to play harder and with more energy, but also to play smarter.  The first half was littered with turnovers and a lack of ball movement.  In the second half, we moved the ball better and were able to break down their zone a little bit easier.  Juanita’s coaching staff does a great job of taking their opponents out of their comfort zone.  They make you play sloppy, they have done it all year.  We were able to hold on and beat them going away by 17 which was a nice accomplishment.”

On the fact that MI beat Mount Si in their last meeting:

“Having beat them last week gives us confidence going into the Kingco playoff matchup. We need to outrebound them and take care of the basketball. Any time we can do those two things, we become a very difficult team to beat.  I know Mount Si will come out hungry though and we will need to exceed their will to win.  That was the case last week and it will be the key this time as well.”

On standout players during the Juanita game:

“Sloan Aikens and Ben Emanuels played terrific defense on Ryon Cunnigan all night.  Cunnigan averages close to 20 a game and we were able to hold him to 15 and a very low shooting percentage.  Those two guys have been stoppers for us all year.  They are doing a great job.  It helped us to hold Juanita to 33 points.”

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)