From Bellevue College: Chief Sealth International High School over Mercer Island HS, 68-54. That guarantees the Seahawks a state-playoffs spot. More to come.

ADDED: More details, and video, ahead:

From WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand:

Back on Martin Luther King Day, Chief Sealth played Bellevue in the King Holiday Hoopfest (WSB coverage here). At the media briefing following the game, Bellevue’s head coach Wes Newton was asked what he thought of the Sealth Seahawks. Without missing a beat, he said, “They’re quick.” That speed was evident Tuesday night as Sealth beat Mercer Island 68-54 to move on to the seeding rounds for the state 3A basketball tournament.

Mercer Island put a physically larger starting five on the floor, but their trouble dealing with the faster Sealth team negated that advantage. The main engineer for controlling the pace of the game virtually from the beginning was Sealth junior Charlie Smith. He finished the night with 16 points.

Throughout the second half Mercer Island went to a press. It met with some success as it brought Mercer Island within 10 points in the third quarter. The Mercer press held Sealth back but passes like this helped Sealth break out.

That was Pepe Hernandez’s third slam on the night.

Here’s the last 1:45 of the game. It ends with Charlie Smith holding the ball until the last couple of seconds run out.

Sealth is now scheduled to play Seattle Prep at Bellevue College Thursday at 3 pm.