Schools
Two League Titles: Boys, Girls Make Renton Basketball History
First time in school history that both boys and girls are league champions.
Banners displayed in the Renton High School gym serve as a reminder of the Indian’s athletics success.
The scrolls mark every league championship won by the boys and girls basketball teams. The boys’ 30 titles even extend onto a second banner. The girls have a bit of catching up to do, with only three titles.
Take a look at the banners side by side: both teams had not won league titles in the same year, until Wednesday night.
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This year the girls enjoyed a solid win of 65-20 to remain undefeated in league play at 13-0 (16-2 overall).
The boys, on the other hand, faced a hot Lindbergh team that had won six of its last seven games. The Eagles lost to the Indians on January 4 (56-51).
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The second ranked Indians came out running in the first period with senior guard Justin Pienh hitting four of five three pointers. Renton controlled the game until the fourth period when Lindbergh took the lead off Anthony Hill's three-pointer.
The game changed three times and tied four times with less than four minutes to go in the fourth period. The Indians took over on two Lindbergh steals to lead by four and never looked back winning, 72-63.
"This wasn't a walk in the park," said Renton Assistant Coach Rashaad Powell. "Hats off to Lindbergh and Coach (Robert) Graham they have a competitive team."
"We have to play better basketball, boxing out and defense," said Powell.
Powell cracked a big smile after learning the teams made history by both earning 2013 titles.
"Its a great feeling, these two programs work hard on and off the court," he said.
Lindbergh head coach Robert Graham said his team needs to mature more: "We are still a young team." Looking to Friday's game against Highline and next week's 2A Subdistrict's Graham says he hopes the team will fool many as the team looks to return to the 2A state tournament.
"We are a deeper team than last year," Graham said. The Eagles have several key players, including Colin Malone who leads in the team in points, Devon Jackson, Connor O'Hearn, Cameron Callen, and Anthony Hill.
Lindbergh 19 12 17 15 --- 63
Renton 23 15 14 20 --- 72
Lindbergh top scorers - Colin Malone (22 points) and Anthony Hill (11 points).
Renton top scorers - Zach Lee (15 points); Justin Pienh (12 points); and Joanthan Patterson (10 points).
Playoffs - With Renton's win, they secure the league's #1 spot in next Wednesday's 2A Subdistrict tournament. The Indians look to play the SPSL #5 seed (currently Fife). The Eagles will secure the league's #2 spot and play SPSL #3 seed (currently Franklin Piece). If Lindbergh loses Friday against Highline and Foster beats Evergreen, its creates a tie. The loser of that would be the #3 seed and face White River
Patch will have complete playoff coverage for basketball next Tuesday with any tiebreakers that may need to be played in the SPSL.
BOYS 2A AP RANKINGS (Renton remains the only 2A school who is undefeated at 19-0) - Lynden, Renton, Pullman, Clover Park, West Valley Yakima, White River, Mark Morris, Anacortes, Sequim, Ellensburg.
GIRLS 2A AP RANKINGS - Mark Morris, WF West, Wapato, Burlington-Edison, Archbishop Murphy, White River, Ellensburg, Renton, Cedarcrest, Pullman.
