In high school sports, one of the most important elements for a program’s long-term success doesn’t even take place at the high school level. Getting kids to take up sports at a young age is becoming more of a prerequisite than a luxury.

For the Mercer Island girls basketball team, the middle school program is starting to send kids through to the high school with not only the passion for basketball but also the skills.

Three standout freshman who will make their debut on varsity this season are Sarah Taylor, Jae Shin and Hailey Gullstad. The combination of youth and skills that these three girls possess is an element that the MIHS girls basketball team has not seen too much of in recent years.

“They were a bit shy coming in but they do hustle,” said Islander senior guard Amanda Nield. “They push me, and I want to help them out as well.”

Each player has different skills said Mercer Island head coach Jamie Prescott: “Sarah is the blue-collar scrappy player who works really hard. She can rebound and defend in the post and is one of those good utility players that every team needs. Hailey is a smart player. She thinks a play ahead. And Jae has phenomenal skills, arguably the best in the program. She has a scorer’s instinct.”

As good as the young players are, the success or failure of this season will ultimately rest with the seniors. Janelle Chow, Nield and Holland Flemming have played two seasons together. The result has been respectability for a program that had been lost at the bottom of 3A KingCo.

For Flemming, the job of captain suites her personality.

“She is a great team leader, and she does a good job of motivating her teammates,” said Prescott.

Hannah Lilly, who took the league by storm last year as a freshman, will have experience on her side but will run into some difficulties.

“She is a known entity now,” said Prescott. “Last year she had the element of surprise. But this season, she will have more teammates involved, which might free her up more.”

One big loss for the Islanders was sole senior Georgia Gier, who guided the team to the district tournament for the first time in six years. Gier has moved on to college, where she scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in her first game at Colgate University.

One familiar name to Islander fans that will return to the team is Beth Richards, younger sister of Prescott. Richards hard-nose play and superior defense made her a force in KingCo. She also holds the majority of the high school records.

“It is always good to have a positive female role model,” said Prescott. “She wants to challenge the girls on defense. She wants to teach them so they can break her records.”

Richards’ junior year at MIHS was the last time the Islanders finished over .500. Prescott is hoping the addition of Richards and an influx of young talent will get the team back to a winning record and maybe to the state playoffs.