The Mercer Island girls basketball team won its fourth consecutive game, beating the Lake Washington Kangs 56-45 Friday, Jan. 31 at Mercer Island High School. With the win, the Islanders improved to 10-3 in KingCo and 12-6 overall.

Mercer Island started the game off strong, leading 15-10 after one before the Kangs fought back in the second, holding Mercer Island to single digits to end the half down only a point, 22-21. But Mercer Island turned the tables in the second half, holding the Kangs to nine third-quarter points while using two 17-point quarters to pull away for the win. Jess Blakeslee led the Islanders in scoring with 17 points, while Anna Luce and Julia Blumenstein each contributed 12.

With KingCo’s second-place Liberty High School losing to Bellevue 55-36 Friday night, the Islanders tied the Patriots for second place in the KingCo standings. The Islanders beat Liberty 53-48 two nights earlier at Liberty High School in the second matchup of the season between the two teams.

The Islanders will finish the regular season hosting conference rivals Bellevue at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Mercer Island High School. At 9-4, Bellevue sits just one game behind Liberty and Mercer Island for fourth place.

Following Wednesday’s game, the KingCo tournament will begin Saturday, Feb. 8.