Islander girls beat Stanwood, improve to 3-0 | Prep girls basketball

Luce scores 21, Blakeslee 19 in Mercer Island win.

December 12, 2015 3:32 am
Mercer Island's Anna Luce (20) shoots over Stanwood's Kaitlin Larson (30) and Haley Strowbridge (25) Friday
Mercer Island's Anna Luce (20) shoots over Stanwood's Kaitlin Larson (30) and Haley Strowbridge (25) Friday

Although the Mercer Island girls basketball team is only three games into the season with its new triangle offense, the Islanders may already be seeing a return on their investment.

Behind 21 points from center Anna Luce and 19 from senior guard Jess Blakeslee, Mercer Island improved to 3-0 with a 65-46 win over the Stanwood Spartans Friday night at MIHS. It was the second-straight game the two players combined to score 40 or more points. And though the visiting Spartans had their rallies, the Islanders maintained control throughout.

“I was expecting it to be close and it was for a good part of the time, but we definitely executed and we took what the defense gave us,” Mercer Island coach Gillian d’Hondt said.

Mercer Island led 18-6 after the first quarter and extended its advantage to a 30-10 lead three minutes into the second quarter, with eight of the Islanders’ first 12 points of the period coming from Luce.

Following a timeout, Stanwood (3-2) cut the deficit to nine with back-to-back 3-pointers from Kaitlin Larson and Haley Strowbridge and two free throws from Ashley Bierer. Taylor Krause scored the final five points of the half for the Islanders to give them a 36-22 halftime lead.

The Spartans rallied again after the break, with a 3-pointer from Larson making it a 42-33 game midway through the third. Mercer Island answered with a 14-2 run to close the period ahead 56-35. Stanwood would get no closer than 19 the rest of the way.

Luce’s game-high 21 points marked her second-straight game with 20 or more points. Though she said she’s used to playing facing the basket, Luce acknowledged the new offense geared to the low post has helped expand her role.

“I’m really happy with the offense, I think we’ve done a good job finding the open man,” she said. “We have some really good passers and people who are selfless, and I think we’ve also taken some really good shots. It’s worked really well so far.”

Krause also reached double figures for the Islanders, scoring 13 points and adding six rebounds. Bierer led the Spartans with 16 points, while Larson had 10.

Next Mercer Island will host Liberty at 7:15 p.m., Monday, Dec. 14 at MIHS.