Despite a rough start and a small roster for a Presidents Day weekend tournament, the Mercer Island boys seventh-grade select ETL basketball team won the Seattle AAU tournament title.

The team started the tournament with five fewer players on the roster and lost its first game in double overtime to HYPE, 55-53. On day two, the team turned things around, going on a three-game winning streak to earn a spot in the championship game after finishing pool play with a 3-1 record.

The team faced HYPE in a rematch of the earlier loss, this time for the title, which the Islanders won with a 44-34 final score.

The team includes: Griffin Kane, Sam Pugel, Matt Leprowse, Anthony Scalzo, Jesse Fulp, Josh Stenberg, Johnny van der Velden and Michael Petrie. The team is coached by head coach Adam Nelson and assistant coaches Brad Chase and Mason Azose.