Renton High begins to gel after ‘turbulent’ start | Boys basketball

The Renton boys basketball team isn’t used to this.

For a team that had one league loss in the past two years combined, a 7-3 league record (and 7-7 overall record) with six games to go is a bit surprising.

“It’s been a little bit turbulent,” said Renton coach Rick Comer. “We’ve taken our lumps and have come out with a little better understanding of where we’ve been and what we are.”

Despite a 76-70 loss to Kennedy Catholic Jan. 22, the Indians have won four of their past five, including a key one-point victory against Foster Jan. 13.

“Now we’ve earned the opportunity to say we’re one of the better teams in the league,” Comer said. “It didn’t just come by inheriting it based on our past.”

Comer said the inexperienced group is starting to build the essential chemistry late in the regular season.

In high school sports, experience is cyclical, and coming into this season, Renton didn’t have much. Between transfers (Najee Ali and Jaamon Echols to Rainier Beach, Nathan Guy to Hazen) and graduation (Derek Lowe, Ryan Quigtar, Carlos Rhodes, Joseph Holifield), Renton has lost eight players who averaged double digit points in recent years.

Achoki Moikobu was the only Indian this year who had averaged five points per game or more in a previous season.

“With so few varsity experienced returners, we’ve taken a little time to gel,” Comer said. “We’ve learned losing can be a regular thing if you don’t get everything together as a team.”

Renton played Lindbergh Jan. 27 (results not available at deadline) and has five games left in the regular season. The Indians face Foster Feb. 11 in the regular-season finale.

Renton is tied for second in the Seamount. The top five teams go to the playoffs.

The Indians have been to the 3A state tournament every year since 2003, except last season.

Contact Renton Reporter Sports Reporter Adam McFadden at amcfadden@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5054.

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