Renton coach Tim White wants people to know three things about his Renton team: It will be faster, it will be more experienced and it will be better.

Renton tied Highline for fifth in the league (7-11 overall, 5-9 league), won a tiebreaker 46-24 over the Pirates, then fell to Auburn Mountainview in the sub-district tournament to end the season. White is confident his team can improve in his second season coaching the program.

“We’re better than last year,” he said. “We’re definitely better than last year.”

Quickness will be the Indians’ strength, and it should go a long way to overcoming a generally short roster. White hopes to fast break as often as possible to utilize his team’s speed, but he also wants the girls to be sound in a half-court offense.

But as much time as the team will spend on offense, defensive pressure still comes first.

“We’ll press when we can,” White said about his defensive philosophies. “I’m definitely more defensive-minded, so that’s where it starts.”

The Indians held opponents to 840 points last season (46.67), fewest in the Seamount League. Renton’s pressing defense held opponents under 50 points 11 times.

The team’s speed was on full display in Renton’s first Seamount game against Tyee. The Indians outscored the Totems 35-9 in the first half on the way to a 60-32 win. Kelsey Sparks led Renton with 14 points. Christina Hay added 12.

Veterans like Hay (senior) and Addyson Stowers (junior) will need to play big roles for the team to succeed. Both were Seamount League honorable mentions last season.

Paris Lark (senior) and Hay are co-captains and will patrol the backcourt. Amanda Rogers is a 5-foot-9 junior center and will give the Indians some good size inside.

Other key returning players are Vanessa O’Francia (senior) and Jessica Isabell (junior). Newcomers Sparks (junior) and Taylor Williams (junior) add to the team’s speed and depth.