Laudon Thomas could see the win coming for Renton.

Before Thursday’s loser-out game at the 3A state tournament against Mount Rainier, the senior stepped in front of the Indians and said they were going to win this game and play again.

The confidence was contagious as Renton topped the Rams 45-41 to live another day, and move another step closer to placing at state.

Renton plays Meadowdale Friday at 12:30 in another loser-out contest.

“To have a guy like that in a position of importance, when rebounding has been our nemesis, to have him say it then go out there and put it into action is great,” said Renton coach Rick Comer. “He’s a good kid and good things happen to good kids.”

Thomas made things tough for the Rams inside all game long and finished with a team-high 10 rebounds. He added three blocks and six points.

The Indians (15-13) started the game slowly, trading blows with a familiar opponent. The Rams and Indians had already played three times this season, with Mount Rainier winning all three.

“We’re not used to playing back-to-back,” said senior Achoki Moikobu. “We just came out flat.”

Renton played Wednesday and fell to Shadle Park in the first round of the tournament.

The pace slowed nearly to a stop in the second quarter, when Renton managed just two points. Still, thanks to strong defense (the Rams scored four in the quarter) Renton was still close and trailed 16-11 at the half.

“Our intensity wasn’t good, our focus wasn’t there,” Comer said. “Two points in the second quarter and 11 for a half? That speaks volumes to lack of focus. At state you have to focus.”

The Indians turned things around in the third quarter and took a 20-18 lead when Hanley Shum drained a three-pointer with just under five minutes left in the period. Shum led all scorers with 17 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds.

The teams battled back and forth from that point with neither side gaining more than a four point advantage.

Thomas had the defensive play of the game when he swatted away a Bryce McPhee dunk attempt with three minutes left in the game.

Things started to turn Renton’s way in the final minutes.

“We picked up the pressure,” Moikobu said. “We saw them on their heels, instead of us on ours.”

Renton took the final lead when Moikobu made two free throws with 20.6 seconds left. He finished with 13 points.

Darrin Briggs collected six points and eight rebounds, but left in the third quarter with an ankle injury. His availability for Friday’s game is unknown.

Mount Rainier struggled from the free throw line, converting just six for 21 attempts.

The Renton crowd, with help from an unlikely source, may have influenced that. A large group of Glacier Peak fans filed into the stands (the Grizzlies played the game after Renton) and started to cheer with the Renton fans.

Knocking off a fellow Seamount team was bittersweet for Comer.

“We compete hard but we’re all good friends,” he said. “To knock that group out is tough. I definitely would’ve like for it to be somebody outside the league.”