Mercer Island girls basketball season ends in tiebreaker

The Islanders lost to Bellevue and Interlake in tiebreaker games on Feb. 8.

By Benjamin Olson • February 12, 2020 11:30 am
Mercer Island senior Grace Shaddle attacks the basket during the Islanders’ 58-49 win over Bellevue on Feb. 7 at Mercer Island High School. Benjamin Olson/staff photo
Mercer Island senior Grace Shaddle attacks the basket during the Islanders’ 58-49 win over Bellevue on Feb. 7 at Mercer Island High School. Benjamin Olson/staff photo

The Mercer Island girls basketball team saw its season come to an end after losing a pair of tiebreakers on Feb. 8. At the conclusion of the regular season, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Interlake all had 2-10 league records, with only two spots left in the league tournament. To break the tie, Mercer Island would face Bellevue again for one half, with the winner going into the 3A KingCo tournament. The loser of the first game would play Interlake for the final spot later that day.

The Wolverines were victorious 27-24 in the first tiebreaker, sending the Islanders into a must-win half against Interlake. The Saints prevailed, bringing an end to the Islanders’ season.

The Islanders forced the three-way tiebreaker with a 58-49 win over Bellevue on Feb. 7 in their regular-season finale. Senior point guard Grace Shaddle scored a game-high 30 points for the Islanders.

“I wanted to get as many (3-pointers) as I could,” Shaddle said. “I wanted to put on a show.”

Senior guard Mattie Lee also had a big game for the Islanders, scoring 17 points.

Shaddle and Lee combined for 10 3-pointers in the win over Bellevue. Shaddle said that she can often tell when she’s locked in from distance early on.

“It starts in warm ups,” Shaddle said after making seven shots from beyond the arc. “If I make my first one, then I know it’s going to be a good night.”

The Islanders led the Wolverines 15-11 after the first quarter, with Shaddle scoring their first eight points. In the second quarter, the Islanders outscored their rivals 17-8 to take a 32-19 lead at halftime. Lee scored 12 points in the second quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers.

The two 3A KingCo rivals traded buckets in the second half, as the Islanders cruised to a 58-49 win. The win tied for the highest offensive output of the season (58-43 win over Shelton on Dec. 7).

“That’s our second league win of the season and to have it come on our senior night against Bellevue, our rival, is indescribable,” Shaddle said.

The Islanders recognized their three seniors Shaddle, Lee and Joy Franke. Shaddle said it was great to be honored in front of a packed gym at Mercer Island High School.

“It was really cool to have our whole school here,” Shaddle said. “It means a lot because I’ve been in the program since sixth grade. For them to send us off this way means a lot.”