Islander girls lose to Franklin, take No. 4 seed to state

By Matt Phelps • March 7, 2009 10:17 pm
Islander guard Hailey Gullstad takes a jumpshot over a Franklin defender during Sea-King district tournament play at Bellevue Community College on Saturday.
Islander guard Hailey Gullstad takes a jumpshot over a Franklin defender during Sea-King district tournament play at Bellevue Community College on Saturday.

The Mercer Island girls basketball team will go to state as the No. 4 seed from the Sea-King district. The team was without four players Saturday as it lost 62-47 to Franklin at Bellevue Community College.

Despite the disparity in rosters and an early seven-point deficit, Mercer Island battled back to take a 21-20 lead during the second quarter. But a lack of substitutions caught up with the Islanders during the second half.

Mercer Island will play in the state tournament starting Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome.