Islander senior Georgia Gier opted out of playing her final season of volleyball to concentrate on basketball. Gier proved that she still knows how to give a thunderous spike, swatting a shot into the back court during the second quarter of the game Wednesday night against Mount Si. But the play was a microcosm within the game, as Gier was promptly called for traveling on the ensuing uncontested lay-up. The Islanders ultimately lost 55-41.
“I just got too excited,” said Gier. “We have to cut down on the little mistakes.”
The little mistakes, such as fouling on three-point shots, shooting 6-for-13 from the free-throw line and key turnovers cost the Islanders the game.
“We have a lack of experience together,” said Mercer Island head coach Jamie Prescott. “I am not disappointed with how they played, because they gave it all they had. We just have to cut down on the mistakes.”
Mercer Island seemed to have the same problems as last season, beginning the game down 22-9. But unlike last year, the Islanders came back.
The Islanders forged a 13-3 run during the second period, led by sophomore Janelle Chow’s seven points. Chow finished the game with 20 points, leading all Mercer Island scorers.
The charge carried over to the second half as the Islanders took their first lead since the beginning of the game. Chow took a long three that rimmed out. Grabbing her own rebound, Chow got the put-back, leading to a 30-28 Mercer Island advantage.
But a litany of fouls sent Mount Si to the line seven times in the final three minutes of the quarter, as they took the lead back 38-31 before the beginning of the final period.
Mount Si forward, Madison Yakaboski, led all scorers with 21 points, but her eight steals changed the game’s momentum throughout the game. Yakaboski’s steal and lay-up to finish the third quarter put an end to any Mercer Island momentum. In contrast, Gier led all players with 16 rebounds, but scored just 10 points. Mount Si sophomore Caitie Richards, who is also Prescott’s younger sister, had 14 points during the game.
“I’m getting good shots, but I am just not finishing,” said Gier. “We are starting to click well and we have a lot of new young players. In past, we would play not to be embarrassed. This year, we are playing to win.”
Friday Mercer Island took on one of the best teams in the state in Issaquah, losing 58-43 as Gier was held to just four points. Chow (14) and freshman Hannah Lilly (10) led the Islanders in scoring.
Mercer Island began the season with a 53-40 victory against class 2A Cedarcrest Dec. 4. Lilly, who had 13 points, and sophomore Chloe Snethen, who had 12, led the Islanders through a 21-point Redwolves second quarter charge. Mercer Island clamped down on defense during the fourth period as Cedarcrest scored just three points total.
The Islanders’ game at Bellevue, originally scheduled for Dec. 1, has been rescheduled for Jan. 29. Mercer Island played Liberty Monday (after Reporter deadline) and will next take on Interlake at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mercer Island High School.
