Girls’ streak ends against Rebels | Prep girls basketball

The Mercer Island girls basketball team lost to the Juanita Rebels 56-40 Friday at Mercer Island High School.

January 21, 2014 11:02 am
Mercer Island’s Renae Tessem drives past Juanita’s Jaissa Nunn Friday
Mercer Island’s Renae Tessem drives past Juanita’s Jaissa Nunn Friday

The Mercer Island girls basketball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end Friday, losing to KingCo’s first-place Juanita Rebels 56-40 at Mercer Island High School. The loss dropped the Islanders to 6-3 in the KingCo standings and 8-6 overall.

Gunning for their fifth-straight win against the league’s top team, Mercer Island came out with a strong first quarter, leading 16-13 after one. But Juanita hung in, tying the game in the second quarter to head into halftime with the score 27-27.

The Rebels opened the second half going on a 6-0 run while holding the Islanders to single digits for the entire third quarter, leading 39-31 after three. And in the fourth, the Islanders still couldn’t crack double figures against the Juanita defense while the Rebels exploded for 17 points. Jess Blakeslee led the Islanders in scoring with 17 points. Julia Blumenstein had 8 points, and Suri Johnson contributed 6 points for Mercer Island.

It was a much different story for Mercer Island earlier in the week. Against the Interlake Saints Monday, Jan. 13 at Mercer Island High School, the Islanders pounced on the Saints early to lead 13-4 after the first quarter and then 21-10 at halftime. After a dead-even third quarter, Mercer Island ran away with an 18-point fourth quarter to win 48-33. Jess Blakeslee led the Islanders in scoring with 13 points and Taylor Krause had 10. Suri Johnson had 7 points, and Latrevian Saunders contributed 6 points for Mercer Island.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the Islanders opened with a 16-point first quarter against the Sammamish Totems to lead 16-6 after one and 28-14 at the half. The Totems responded with a strong second half, making a 16-6 run themselves in the fourth quarter. But Mercer Island held on to win 48-40. Julia Blumenstein led the Islanders in scoring with 13 points. Jess Blakeslee had 11, Arianna Moscatel had  7 points and Anna Luce had 6 points for Mercer Island.

The Islanders will take on Mount Si at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Mercer Island High School, followed by a trip to Interlake High School for their second matchup with the Saints at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Then on Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Islanders will take on Liberty at  7:30 p.m. at Liberty High School.