Mercer Island senior Georgia Gier knows that she will be playing basketball at Colgate University next season. She knows that her ability and size has come with high expectations. She also knows that this is her last year to leave her mark on the Mercer Island girls basketball program.
“She is really motivated,” said Mercer Island girls basketball head coach Jamie Prescott. “Her aggressiveness and consistency have improved a lot. She was a dominating force during the fall league.”
Gier will be asked to lead a young team with a lot of athleticism but lags behind the topsteams in terms of experience and skill development.
“It is really weird to be the only senior on the team,” said Gier. “I want us to work hard this year and set a good tone for the future.”
Gier’s dedication to basketball led to her sitting out the volleyball season to play in a fall league.
“I have gotten a lot better in the post,” said Gier. “I can finish a lot better.”
The team around Gier has a lot of raw talent. Janelle Chow, a three sport athlete and shooting guard, is only a sophomore and is regarded as one of the most talented athletes at the school. Chow’s thunderous spikes made her a huge weapon for the volleyball team. Junior Amanda Nield led the volleyball team to eighth in state as a setter. Nield’s position on the volleyball court is comparable to being a point guard as she is the on-court leader for each Mercer Island team. The two guards bring speed and will look for fast-break opportunities whenever possible.
“Janelle and Amanda are two of the fastest girls in the league,” said Prescott. “And Janelle can jump out of the gym. Neither of them ever give up.”
Holland Flemming adds some size to the lineup as a junior forward.
“We need to get them to use their athleticism to create opportunities,” said Prescott.
All three have varsity experience and are hungry to make the Islanders into something they have not been in a very long time — a contender.
“Outside of Georgia, we are one of the smallest teams in the league, but they are really competitive,” said Prescott. “If there is not blood, they don’t think they are working hard enough.”
The problem for the Islanders is that the majority of their varsity experience stops there.
“We have four kids who are freshman on the varsity team,” said Prescott.
But those four girls are different than most that have come up through the program. With the advent of the middle school select team, basketball is the new breeds’ first and only sport.
Leading the way is Hannah Lilly, who possesses a lot of the athletic skill of Nield and Chow and gives Prescott a deep bench at the guard position.
Kate DaPron, a freshman forward, could be the team’s next true center to take Gier’s spot.
Gier said that a good season for the team would be to improve on last year’s finish.
“Making it to districts would be a big success,” said Gier.
The team has made the KingCo playoffs each of the last three years but has not made it to districts in five years.
The 3A KingCo division will be tougher than ever for the girls with Skyline moving back from the 4A level. Teams like Bellevue and Issaquah are the preseason favorites to win KingCo.
The Islanders will have a good chance to improve on their 5-9 record from last season by staying competitive with Bellevue and Issaquah and winning games against Liberty, Newport and Mount Si.
The Islanders’ first league game will be 3:30 p.m. Friday, as they host Bellevue in the Islander gymnasium.
Head coach: Jamie Prescott (Third year – MIHS grad)
Assistant coaches: Charnell Bolger, John Parker and Kelly John-Lewis (JV).
Last year’s record: 5-9 in-league, 8-11 overall, made KingCo playoffs.
Key returning athletes: Georgia Gier (Sr. — C); Amanda Nield (Jr. — G); Janelle Chow (So. — G); Holland Flemming (Jr. — F).
Key newcomers: Cloe Stephens (Sp.); Hannah Lilly (Fr.); Kate DaPron (Fr.);
Key losses: Ellie Chapman; Mika Rothman; Elaine Chirls; Kelly Houtchens and Meg Farra.
Key games this season: All league games.
First game of the year: 7:30 p.m. tonight at Bothell H.S.
