Matt Schut’s jump shot following the opening tip between Mercer Island and Bellevue gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead. As a joke, the Mercer Island student body began chanting “It’s all over.” But the chant was prophetic as the Islander boys never trailed during the game, soundly defeating their biggest rival 47-36, and knocking the Wolverines out of the 3A KingCo title picture.
“This means a ton to both teams in opposite ways,” said Islander Leroy Lutu. “I think they have lost a lot of confidence and it gives us a bunch of momentum. We feel like we won’t get beat again in KingCo.”
Mercer Island finished the first quarter with a 12-4 lead, as Bellevue shot just 2-for-7 from the floor. Bellevue’s shooting woes would not last long as they cut the lead to 14-10. Needing a big play to thwart the Wolverines’ momentum, Mercer Island player Jack Gala caught the ball under the basket on the ensuing possession and passed up an easy lay-in under the basket. The junior instead slung the ball outside to a wide-open Schut, who hit a three-point shot to put the lead back to seven points.
“Jack was one of the unsung heroes,” said Mercer Island head coach Ed Pepple. “(That play) just proves that he is smarter than I am.”
The Islanders pushed that lead to double digits 22-12 following senior Trevor Fulp’s three pointer late in the quarter. But Bellevue would not go away, mounting a 7-0 run to finish the half down by just one possession.
Mercer Island held a Bellevue charge in check during most of the third period, but the Wolverines cut the lead to just one entering the fourth quarter. Most of Bellevue’s problems on offense came from beyond the three-point arch, as they shot just 2-for-9 from three-point range during the contest.
“We played good team defense tonight,” said Mercer Island guard Evan Zahniser. “We just played well everywhere.”
Fulp made sure that Bellevue was not going to get any closer by starting the fourth quarter with back-to-back three-pointers.
“Trevor had a really big second half,” said Pepple. “But this was the best coordinated defensive effort of the year so far. Coach Laugerstedt did a great job of getting these kids ready on defense.”
Mercer Island shot 6-for-7 from the floor during the final period, including Fulp’s nine points. The senior finished with a game high 16 points, while Schut had 15. The Islanders held Luke Sikma to just eight points.
The only disappointing statistic for the Islanders was the fact that their bench scored just two points during the entire game — a couple of free-throws by Gala during the fourth period.
“We need more from the bench because during the playoffs that just isn’t going to cut it,” said Lutu. “But they contributed in other ways tonight.”
The two schools were to first meet back in December but the game was postponed as the Bellevue football team was playing in the state title game. Ironically, the cancellation might have helped Mercer Island more than Bellevue.
“We had some guys who were not 100 percent during that time,” said Pepple.
One of those guys was Lutu, who finished with nine points.
Scheduling conflicts and postponed games continue to dog the entire league. Mercer Island was to play Sammamish last Friday night but the game was canceled due to snow and ice. The game will be made up at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Sammamish High School. It will be the third game of the week for the Islanders as they traveled to Issaquah to take on the league leading, 5-0, Eagles Tuesday (after Reporter deadline) and will host Mount Si at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
