BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer
UNIVERSITY PLACE - Renton physicality combined with suspect Foster decision making crashed the Bulldogs out of the 2018 West Central District 2A girls basketball tournament, 34-23, in a loser-out game at the Ray Beard Gymnasium at Curtis High School on Thurs., Feb. 15.
Renton (18-4) will face Kingston for the fifth and last seed on Feb. 17 at Washington High School. Foster ended its season at 15-8 while graduating only one senior.
After slicing up the Indian full court press like a turkey on Thanksgiving to lead 10-4 with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter, the Bulldogs began falling victim to Indian inside the paint dominance and their own mistakes as the Indians ran off 14 consecutive points including an 11-0 second quarter shut out to lead 18-10 at the half.
Foster briefly regained some semblance of control to close within five points twice until Moeshana Maiava's basket closed the gap to 22-19 with 1:50 left in the third quarter.
The Indians regained their poise as the Bulldogs had some panicky moments that enabled Renton to pull away and never led by less than seven points following a 4-0 surge to end the quarter.
Foster steals were not point builders.
Precious Serafica led Foster with six points, indicative of the problems the Bulldogs encountered while trying to run their offense against a team as adept on defense as they were.
Six-foot, two-inch Mahrysa Thomas scored 13 points as the main cog of the Indian physical presence inside and also paced the rebounding advantage of Renton.
