The Mercer Island girls basketball team qualified for the state playoffs Thursday with a 59-43 victory against Seattle Prep during the district playoffs at Bellevue Community College.

The Islanders built a seven point lead before pulling away during the third quarter. The team pushed its advantage to 41-27 by the start of the fourth quarter. The Islander defense held the Prep Panthers to single digits during two quarters.

Islander Hailey Gullstad led the team with 12 points.

Mercer Island will now play at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday at Bellevue Community College for the third seed to the state tournament.