Bolstered by its theme, “All of Us,” the Mercer Island High School boys basketball squad has shot out of the gate with a 4-1 overall record this season at press time.

Five of the team’s seven seniors have played together since fourth grade, according to head coach Gavin Cree, adding that a unique touch to the situation has players choosing to stay together on the court throughout the year.

“Our story is really continuity and collective investment over many years,” Cree said of the squad’s success.

The senior trio of Nick Mautone, Syver Lanctot and Ryan Boyle possess the captain spots, and they are joined by fellow seniors Spencer Kornblum, Oliver Bellin, Grayson Conder and Max Murphy.

Standing 6-feet-tall in his guard spot, Lanctot said that the team’s closeness and chemistry makes it a special squad this season.

“Another factor in our success is how competitive our team is with each other, which helps make each other better. When we play as a team and rebound together, we are very hard to beat,” he said.

Boyle, a 6-3 forward, echoes Lanctot’s chemistry comment and adds that team bonding is another key to success for the Islanders.

“Everyone likes each other, we are together a lot of the time. We need to stay focused and stay locked in to get where we need to go,” he said.

For Mautone, a 6-4 forward, it’s the entire team’s offseason weight-room workouts that have placed their bodies in solid shape to jump out to a stellar start.

“In order to achieve success, winning the league title, we have to continue improving, each practice and each game,” he said.

In their captain roles, the guys said that communication, leading by example on and off the court, encouragement and having fun are some of the components that they bring into the Islander basketball realm each day.

The captains have spent an immense and invaluable amount of time within the Mercer Island basketball program and they’ve learned how to work hard to accomplish their goals, build vital relationships, become leaders and gain confidence in themselves and more.

“I have also learned skills to keep up healthy relationships in our coaching boys into men sessions,” Mautone said.

Added Lanctot: “The tradition behind MI basketball has taught me how to build relationships with those who have come before me, and gain insight and knowledge from them.”

Boyle said that he’s learned what it takes to win along with, “Being a part of something bigger than yourself, putting a ton of effort into a bigger goal.”