New look Redhawks down Lindbergh for fifth straight time since 2021

A year removed from a sixth-place finish at the 2A state tournament, on the coattails of a state appearance the year before, Renton High School’s boys basketball team looks a lot different this season.

It is a new look Redhawk team after losing key players from last year’s team. Four of the five starters from last season didn’t graduate, but left Renton High School. Dennis Johnson took to Arizona to play for Phoenix Prep. The Ili-Meneese brothers, Micah and Marcus, went up north to Rainier Beach, and Daniel Jackson Jr. also is playing with a Metro League team, Garfield.

Renton has felt the effects of those key players’ departures as they started off just 1-8 in their first nine games of the season. After winning their first game of the season, Renton lost eight straight games. It is the school’s longest losing streak since 1996, when the school lost 14 straight games — 12 of those games were forfeited. But the last losing streak with no forfeits was back in 1990, when the team lost nine straight.

The current losing streak came to a close Dec. 30 against cross-town rival Lindbergh, 61-55.

“It was good. It wasn’t pretty…Despite the scores of the games, we have actually been in the games. But it comes down to discipline and execution,” Coach Rashaad Powell said. “We are making progress. The win tonight was good to see the fruition of that progress. We just gotta keep working.”

“We couldn’t lose this one. That was really the mindset. We had a great gameplan from Coach Powell, we were locked in,” Senior Isaac Elegan said.

Lindbergh shot out of the gate with their best quarter of the game. The Eagles’ 20-point quarter was their best of the game, with six different Eagles scoring points. James Huff IV had a couple of huge blocks and established himself early with an interior presence. Lindbergh was on top, 20-10, after the first frame.

After serving a penalty for missing a practice over the weekend, Isaac Elegan unleashed a fury of energy and juice for the Redhawks in the second quarter. Down 10 after the first quarter, Elegan came out and scored 14 points in the second quarter, which ended up cutting the lead to just two points, 33-31.

“Since he’s been eight years old, he’s been able to put the ball in the hole. It was a good spark that was needed. He’s going to need to continue to do that,” Powell said.

Elegan was one of those players that was thrust into a role that he might not have been expecting this season. But he is delivering on the court for the Redhawks.

“Last year I was just a corner guy. Now I am the man. I am also starting to lead and be a leader. We are inexperienced, but our senior leaders are stepping in and making sure everyone gets a feel for the game,” Elegan said.

Out of the break, Renton had all the momentum. Jordan Agosto was firing, leading the charge in the third quarter. As the lone player with serious varsity minutes from last season, Agosto can be a difference maker for Renton.

“He’s a baller and I trust him. He’s the guy. If I am not going, I know he is,” said Elegan.

Nate Omar also had six points in the third quarter, but more importantly, the Redhawks held the Eagles to just 11 points on their offensive side of the floor. This has been without a doubt Powell’s biggest challenge as a coach, with the schedule and just sheer lack of experience his roster has at the varsity level.

But it’s a challenge that he is taking head on.

“This is the part of coaching that I enjoy. Even though it frustrates me to no end, I love it to death. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. To take a team where you have really one guy with returning varsity experience and take them against arguably the toughest league in the state every night, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Powell said.

Renton took a five-point lead, 49-44, into the fourth quarter with the Eagles nipping right at their heels.

With 3:30 remaining in the game, Lindbergh cut the lead to just two points. John Choul did what he does best for the Eagles in leading them when they need someone to step up. Choul finished with 17 points, a team high. At 58-55, the game had just one minute left. Lindbergh has some clutch shooters from outside the arc. Lukas Lutthans made a three to cut the lead to three, and Trinidad English and Oliver Talmadge would be the go-to-guys. But Renton made sure they wouldn’t have an opportunity.

Sophomore Juice White-Kelly had a quiet night, just seven points in the first three quarters, but he made his biggest shot in the final 30 seconds: a spot-up three pointer from the top of the key, but the dagger in the heart of the Eagles.

“He is interesting because Juice is one of those kids that doesn’t realize how good and how talented and impactful he could be… He has a ton of ability…He stepped up and shot it with confidence, that was huge for him,” said Powell.

Renton is a part of the KingCo Crown division, the top division in the league. Renton is still searching for their first win in league play, but there is hope that they can turn it around as the season progresses.