Highlanders End Regular Season with Win Against Indians

Hazen’s senior guard De’Corius Sampson led his team with 17 points as the Seamount League Champions wrapped up the regular season with a win over the 65-53. For the current team, this is the first time the players have won against Renton on the road.

The game came down to the final 7 minutes when Hazen (16-3 Overall, 13-1 Seamount) started a 6-1 scoring run on a Sampson 3-point shot. Seniors Brandt Graybeal and R.J. Magar each scored 11 points, as Graybeal also contributed a steal and a block.

Indians’ senior guard Justin Bennett led all scorers with 21 points, including 3 steals and a block, but as the Indians (10-10 Overall, 8-6 Seamount) got closer to tying the game, the Highlanders kept pulling away. Renton’s senior forward Mitch Edwards helped the Indians with a field goal and foul shot to get the team trailing 52-54 with less than 2 minutes, but another 3-point field goal by Sampson and a field goal by Graybeal helped to seal the game.

Hazen Head Coach Gary Schaplow said the Highlanders were able to finally put an end to the frustrating experiences of repeatedly losing to Renton at Renton High School.

“These kids have never beaten Renton on their court,” said Schaplow.

The Highlanders went into the third quarter with a 29-22 lead before the Indians went on a 9-5 scoring run, forcing Hazen to call a timeout after a Bennett field goal. Schaplow told the Highlanders to start playing defense.

“We let Renton drive straight to the rim three times in the row," said Schaplow, "and that’s unacceptable this time in the season.”

The Hazen Highlanders will begin post-season play against the Lakes Lancers in the Sub-District playoffs at Lakes High School. Game time starts Friday, February 11 at 8pm.

Note:

• It’s unclear who Renton will face in the first Sub-Division game. Depending on how seeding works, they will either be positioned as Seamount #2 or #4. More information will be provided when it becomes available.