Boys Basketball | No. 6 Renton not making it look easy

RENTON — Carlos Rhodes admits his team is going through growing pains despite a glowing record.

He knows his team is better than it's showing. The wins should be coming easier.

Rhodes stepped up with some his best stuff when the sixth-ranked Renton boys basketball team needed it most Tuesday night. The 5-foot-10 junior guard put up a career-high 27 points as the Indians turned back a determined, ninth-ranked Kennedy squad 68-65 in a Seamount League game.

The win could have turned a speed bump into a launching pad for Renton (12-1 overall, 6-1 league) after the Indians trailed most of the second half against Kennedy (9-3, 5-2).

"I'm happy we're second in the Seamount, but we're still trying to be No. 1," said Rhodes, a Chief Sealth transfer who eclipsed his career-best point total by 11. "I'm starting to get more confidence in myself. I'm trying to lead my team to victory."

It was Kennedy's second tough loss in a row, following Friday's 88-71 loss at league-leading Mount Rainier. The Lancers, who got 15 points from Tre Watson, had a chance to take control, leading by as many as eight in the first half.

Junior guard Derek Lowe made the game-preserving steal, stripping Watson of the ball on a drive with eight seconds left. Lowe's strip led to a breakaway layin from Najee Ali with four seconds showing.

Before Lowe's defensive gem, Renton had turned the ball over twice.

"We'll take it," said Renton senior Ryan Quigtar. "We want to win comfortably, like we were earlier in the season.

"Now, we seem to be living or dying at the end."

Renton coach Rick Comer says his team needs better effort, especially in transition defense.

"It's been give and take with us," Comer said. "I'm glad we held home court, because we'll see them on the road next time. [Kennedy] will have a lot of confidence from this game."

Other 3A boys

• Mike Ladd got 18 of his 22 points in the first half and top-ranked Rainier Beach (13-1, 9-0 Metro) hit triple figures for the first time this season in a 100-48 win over Lakeside.

• Alfie Miller got 16 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter as No. 5 Mount Rainier (12-1, 7-0 Seamount) beat Hazen 74-56. He had five three-pointers and hit 14 of 16 free throws (11 of 12 in the fourth quarter).