Last season, the Renton Redhawks went 6-19, but somehow made the state tournament after defeating Sultan in the 2A district title game against all odds.

This year, Renton High School girls basketball team is rolling. The Redhawks (17-3) have now won three in a row and four of their last five games after defeating Foster (8-11) 65-24 in the opening round of the KingCo tournament on Feb. 4.

“These young ladies play hard. They practice hard and they play hard. To me, I don’t look at the youth, I look at the hard play,” head coach Earl Cheatham said. “They listen and it’s a great group of young ladies to coach. I am having a blast coaching these young ladies.”

Renton was the No. 2 seed in KingCo 2A and it was clear from the jump that Renton was the better team on the floor against Foster despite the Bulldogs being No. 3.

The Redhawks dominated Foster in the first quarter, leading 18-0 at the end of the first quarter. This was a team that Renton only had beaten by 10 points in their last meeting a month ago.

“I feel like it was a good first game. It helps us start the playoff season confident,” sophomore Khloe Mallary said.

There was some additional motivation for Renton as well as the Redhawks played with an edge the entire game, despite the significant margin early.

But freshman Gigi Victo Hill was on a mission as she finished the first half with 13 points, more than Foster scored as an entire team in the opening two quarters. Victo Hill had half of Renton’s points at the break as Renton was on top 23-9 at half.

Gigi Victo Hill takes a 3-pointer against Foster. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Victo Hill finished with a team-high 20 points for the Redhawks. This is the type of player Cheatham wants to see on a night in and night out basis.

“I tell her all the time to let it loose,” Cheatham said.

Any time a team is held to under 10 points in a half, defenses deserve a lot of credit for that result.

“At practice these ladies come to work every day,” Cheatham said. “These young ladies are good hard workers and they listen.”

Victo Hill was supplemented well with play from sophomore Khloe Mallary and freshman Mia Mickelson. Renton has a lot of youth up and down the roster with Ny’Mari Garner and Lyric Williams being the lone seniors for the Redhawks.

Mallary made it clear that these games are for those two seniors, to send them out on a high note.

“Even though we are a young group, we are still playing for our seniors and upperclassmen. We are not playing too relaxed. We are giving it our all. It’s not all about us. We are playing not selfish and playing as a team,” Mallary said.

In the third quarter, Mickelson got hot from beyond the arc and hit a trio of 3-pointers. The freshman sharpshooter finished with 12 points and was a big boost in that third quarter.

“When you hit those shots especially after air-balling twice, it really motivates you and pumps you up. It’s great,” Mickelson said.

Renton now takes on Cedarcrest for the third time this season, after splitting the regular season series. Last year the two sides played three times as well with Cedarcrest winning the first two in the regular season and once in the KingCo championship. But Renton defeated the Red Wolves in a winner-to-state district game 30-29.

“They are listening and buying into what me and coach Grant (Seufferlein) are trying to teach them. They are playing with confidence and I love that. They play real hard so I’m impressed with that,” Cheatham said.

In the most recent game back on Jan. 31 ,which was the last game Cedarcrest has played, Renton left Cedarcrest with a 57-43 win. For repeat success, Renton is relying on their chemistry. “It’s really emotional for us. We never get to do this very often. Our chemistry really takes us there,” Mickelson said.

Renton heads to Lindbergh on Feb. 6 to take on Cedarcrest for the KingCo tournament championship.