Girls basketball: Airashay Rogers leads Hazen past Renton

Hazen’s Airashay Rogers and Gina Kirklin were too much for Renton Tuesday when the Highlanders beat the Indians 56-42.

Rogers led all scorers with 19 points and Kirklin added 13. Rogers also collected eight rebounds.

Hazen (11-5 overall, 9-4 Seamount) led by just one point halfway through the first quarter. But later in the quarter, the Highlanders went on a 9-2 run to stretch out a 10-point lead at the end of the period.

Renton (5-11, 5-8) got into foul trouble in the second quarter and Hazen capitalized, hitting seven of nine free-throw attempts. The Indians trailed by as much as 18 in the quarter; but four points by Christina Hay pulled them back within 12 at the half.

The Indians came out in the second half on fire. Two quick Hay three pointers and a Taylor Williams bucket pulled the team to within eight points.

But Hazen answered again and then ended the third quarter with a 6-0 run for a 16-point lead.

Hay drained two more three pointers in the fourth quarter, but the effort wasn’t enough. She ended the game with a team-leading 16 points.

Hazen made six of eight free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the game.

Kelsey Sparks and Williams each scored eight for Renton.

The 19 points for Rogers was actually her lowest total in the past six games, a stretch where she’s averaged 22.67 points per game.

Hay’s 16-point game was the second best scoring game for her this season.

Hazen is in third place in the Seamount, 2 1/2 games behind Mount Rainier. The Highlanders have league games left against Highline (Feb. 6) and Foster (Feb. 10).

Renton is in sixth place in the Seamount, 2 1/2 games behind Lindbergh. The Indians have games left against Evergreen (Feb. 6), Highline (Feb. 10) and Foster (Feb. 13).