Mercer Island senior Kris Brackmann (10) shoots the ball during the girls KingCo championship game on Thursday, Feb. 7. - Megan Managan/Mercer Island Reporter
Megan Managan/Mercer Island Reporter
Mercer Island senior Kris Brackmann (10) shoots the ball during the girls KingCo championship game on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Mercer Island falls to Bellevue in KingCo title game | Girls prep basketball

By MEGAN MANAGAN
Mercer Island Reporter Reporter
February 8, 2013 · 11:52 AM

Though Mercer Island girls basketball team made a run in the second half of the girls KingCo championships on Thursday against Bellevue, the earlier lead was too great for the Islanders to overcome. Mercer Island lost 61-54 to the Wolverines.

The Islanders still move forward to the SeaKing district tournament this weekend as the No. 2 team.

Bellevue dominated much of the first half, scoring 16 points in the first and second quarters while holding the Islanders to 22 in the first half.

But after the break, Mercer Island came back strong, setting up a late run in the final minutes of the game. Mercer Island scored 18 potions to Bellevue's 11 in the final quarter, and pulled within three points of the lead at one point. Key free throw points for the Wolverines gave the team the bump they needed to win the game.

After the game, all-KingCo teams were named with Kris Brackmann earning first team selection, while Jessica Blakeslee, Julia Blumenstein and Renae Tessem earned honorable mention.

The girls will play Bishop Blanchet in the first round of the district tournament on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at MIHS. The game is loser out. The winner will move on to play the Metro No. 3 team West Seattle on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Chief Sealth High School. That game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.

Contact Mercer Island Reporter Reporter Megan Managan at mmanagan@mi-reporter.com or (206) 232-1215 ext. 5054.

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