The Renton Redhawks boys basketball team is back in action for the summer in the Renton High School Summer League. The Redhawks took down the Eastside Catholic Lancers in a highly competitive game but the results are not what Head Coach Rashaad Powell is after, he said.

“I don’t put a lot of stock in it in terms of wins and losses. The only thing it means to me is we’re competing and playing against good high-level teams that are well-coached. There’s more value in that for me because it says we’re doing some of the right things,” Powell said.

The squad that Renton has for the summer is a unique one, a team that has surprised Powell. “ It was necessarily the group of guys that I had on paper going into the summer. To see us meshing and gelling as we are and winning and competing has been great. It’s been a very pleasant surprise,” Powell said.

Under a microscope, the 2A class Redhawks taking down a team that finished sixth at state at the 3A level is a huge accomplishment. But beating someone in Summer League vs. a non-league game in November is a bit different. “We can lose every summer and even in the season, I can live with it, if you’re giving your best effort and competing. I can’t live with it if we aren’t competing,” Powell said.

Powell and the Renton basketball team have a unique challenge in front of them. The Redhawks showed a lot of promise last year, but want to take strides of improvement on the court next season.

“I want to see them competing and executing basketball principles. Specifically the principles we preach, being there on the catch, closing out, containing penetration, contesting jump shots, boxing out. … I don’t care if you make a mistake, you’re going to make mistakes; I care about what you do after the mistakes,” he said.

Powell is working with a lot of players who played on the JV and C teams over the last few seasons. For these kids, many have played with the Renton Select youth programs and are accustomed to the culture Powell wants to build and sustain at Renton. “There’s a winning pedigree and winning mentality with them… They’re excited to be here and you know I’m excited to work with them,” Powell said.

Renton last placed in the state tournament back in 2019 beating Pullman in the 2A 3rd/5th place game. The Redhawks had an early exit in Yakima back in March, they look to improve on that mark in the 23-24 season.