Assistant coach Rashaad Powell put a message on the board for the Renton boys basketball team to start the season.

“You can’t take the elevator to success, you must take the steps.”

Following right in line, not everything has come easily for the team this season, and maybe that’s a good thing.

The Indians spent much of the past decade playing into March (state appearances from 2003-2008) and building impressive records.

After a 55-49 bi-district win against Clover Park Friday night at Auburn High School, Renton is just one more win away from traveling to state despite an up-and-down regular season.

“Sometimes when you’re used to going to state each year, that’s great, but you start to expect to win,” said Renton coach Rick Comer. “I believe that it feels much better to get a win like these right now. They’re earning it and it’s not about the mystique of Renton.”

Comer said the biggest key to Renton’s (12-11) push through districts is the team’s seniors.

“They’re kind of running the show,” he said. “They’ve taken ownership of this team.”

One of those seniors, Hanley Shum, drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to kick off scoring in the game and didn’t stop there. He remained hot the whole night and led Renton with 15 points.

“The game was slow to me, everything slowed down,” Shum said. “It seemed like every basket was going in.”

Shum could’ve scored more but he ran into foul trouble and had to sit much of the second half.

“Hanley just doesn’t want to go home,” Comer said. “It’s a senior who has decided he doesn’t want to go home and it’s good to see that.”

Fellow seniors Achoki Moikobu, Joseph Powell and Laudon Thomas also stepped up. Moikobu scored 12, Powell nine and Thomas played excellent defense inside limiting the Warriors.

Comer said a matchup, 2-3 zone was key to holding the Warriors in check. Clover Park didn’t score for over six minutes to start the game as Renton built a 9-0 lead.

Renton led until Clover Park tied the game 35 two minutes into the fourth and again at 37 moments later. But the Warriors were never able to push past and take a lead.

Powell hit a runner to give Renton a 46-40 lead with one minute, 49 seconds left. From that point on, Clover Park fouled Renton immediately trying to slow the game down and steal a win.

It didn’t work. Moikobu went 3/4 from the free-throw line, Powell went 3/4 and Darrin Briggs (who scored 13 points in the game) went 4/4 as the Indians calmly iced Clover Park.

Next up for Renton is Capital Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Auburn High School in a winner-to-state, loser-out game.