It took three tries, but Foster finally knocked off Renton.
Foster scrambled, pressured and dunked its way to a 55-54 win against Renton Thursday, in a winner-to-state West-Central/Southwest 3A district game at Mount Rainier High School.
From the opening tip, two things were clear: These teams knew each other well and they each knew how to apply defensive pressure.
Renton (17-3) swept the two regular season meetings between the teams this season. The first by three points and the second in overtime.
Foster (16-5) opened a 20-12 advantage in the second quarter and Renton responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead.
The Buldogs took a two-point lead at the half when J.J. Smith made a short shot with a second remaining in the second quarter.
Foster carried a slim lead through the third and early fourth quarter, but got into foul trouble. The Bulldogs picked up their seventh foul with 24 seconds left in the third, putting Renton in the bonus.
The Indians spent much of the fourth quarter attacking the hoop and drawing fouls. Renton went on a 12-0 to turn a seven-point deficit into a five-point lead in the early fourth quarter.
Renton took a 54-53 lead with 17 seconds left in the game on two free throws by Achoki Moikobu. Then Foster’s Travis Miller drove the length of the floor and made a layin with eight seconds left.
Renton drove back down and lost control of the ball. But the Indians were able to call a timeout with one second left. Renton inbounded the ball and Joseph Holifield’s shot came up just short.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renton | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 54 |
| Foster | 15 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 55 |
Miller led all game scorers with 17 points. He was also instrumental to his team’s momentum when he got the crowd standing twice in the third quarter with slam dunks. The first came when he trailed the play and slammed the ball with one hand. The second was three minutes later on a fastbreak when Ali Cortez tossed up an alley oop.
Holifield and Moikobu each scored 14 to lead Renton. Nathan Guy scored 12.
Renton must now win two games in a row to make the state tournament. The Indians play Columbia River Saturday at 8 p.m. at Mount Tahoma High School.
Foster will advance to state after the district tournament and plays Lakes March 6 in the next round of districts.
Renton
- Joseph Holifield, 14 points
- Achoki Moikobu, 14 points
- Nathan Guy, 12 points
- Joseph Powell, 6 points
- Hanley Shum, 6 points
- Laudon Thomas, 2 points
Foster
- Travis Miller, 17 points
- Refugio Soto-Lopez, 16 points
- J.J. Smith, 9 points
- Cameron Faison, 6 points
- Norman Moimoi, 3 points
- Ali Cortez, 2 points
- Darius Page, 2 points
