By Matt Phelps

The Mercer Island boys basketball team played its worst game of the season during a 3A KingCo tournament first-round upset against Bellevue, 54-41. Luckily the players got another shot to redeem themselves, as they beat Newport 61-43, Wednesday at Issaquah High School. The victory gave Mercer Island the fifth seed to the district tournament and saved them from elimination.

“I thought we were playing soccer (against Bellevue),” said Mercer Island boys basketball head coach Ed Pepple. “We didn’t score for five minutes. But I was totally satisfied with tonight’s game (against Newport).”

The Islanders hosted West Seattle at Mercer Island High School Tuesday (after Reporter deadline) in a loser-out first-round district tournament game. With a win, the team will play Interlake Friday at 8:15 p.m. at Bellevue Community College.

As badly as the team members played during the first round of the KingCo tournament, they more than made up for it against the Knights. Knowing that a loss would send them home, the Islanders exploded for an 8-0 lead to start the game, and never looked back.

“We knew that if we lost this game, we were done,” said Blakney. “We didn’t bring the energy against Bellevue and we have to use our speed to our advantage.”

The team’s defense did its part by holding Newport to just two baskets from the field during the first quarter and sparking four fast-break buckets.

“We have to be intense on `D’ and create turnovers,” said Islander Kael Kristof. “We have to play together when the going gets tough.”

All players contributed during the game.

“Kramer Aspiri did a nice job with six points during the first quarter and (Trevor) Fulp played a good game,” said Pepple. “Our sophomores came up big for us.”

Mercer Island kicked off the second quarter with a thunderous blocked shot by senior Noah Blakney and stretched their lead to 24-9 as David Kelly took a hard foul driving to the basket and hit the resulting free throws. Bad passes led to turnovers by Mercer Island, the only thing that kept the Knights on life support as they pulled back within 11 points before half time.

The Islanders extended their lead back to 15 points as Blakney hit consecutive three-pointers.

“I wasn’t worried about being flat tonight because we have good leadership on this team,” said Pepple.

Blakney finished the game with 12 points but was not the team’s leading scorer. Kristof also hit a three to complete the barrage from beyond the arc. Kristof finished with 14 to lead all scorers for the game.

Kelly quietly had one of his best games of the season as he scored 13 points with four assists, five rebounds and two steals in three quarters of play.

“We have to try and push the tempo,” said Kelly. “My job is to create opportunities on the defensive end.”

Against Bellevue on Feb. 8, the Islanders managed just six points during the first quarter and 15 for the first half.

“We were just flatter than whatever,” said Pepple. “When we played them (Friday, Feb. 4) we played the best first half we have played this year.”

None of the Islander players scored in double figures against the Wolverine team they had defeated twice during the regular season — 76-49 and 55-46.

When it came to the subject of the district playoffs, Pepple put it simply: “We have to win games.”