Detroit Renaissance fends off DeWitt rally to make Division 1 title game
It was dicey at the end, but ultimately Detroit Renaissance didn’t fall victim to what Belleville did.
East Lansing — It was dicey at the end, but ultimately Detroit Renaissance didn’t fall victim to what Belleville did, which was a frantic fourth-quarter comeback by DeWitt. For the first time since 2021, Renaissance (23-2) will play for a state championship in girls basketball after gutting out a 32-28 win over DeWitt in a Division 1 state semifinal on Friday. Renaissance will meet Muskegon at 12:15 p.
m. Saturday for the championship. More: Muskegon overpowers Utica Eisenhower in Division 1 girls basketball semifinals “It’s like my heart stopped a few times for sure,” a relieved Renaissance coach DaShaun Wood said.
It was certainly hard to blame Wood and the rest of Renaissance for feeling that way. On Tuesday, DeWitt stunned defending state champion Belleville with a fourth-quarter comeback, rallying from a seven-point deficit to pull out a 48-41 win. Likewise, Renaissance looked to be in control in the fourth quarter, up 28-19 with 6:15 remaining.
But DeWitt mounted a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to 28-26 with 2:57 left, sending a partisan DeWitt crowd into a frenzy. Senior Sophia Beland hit a layup, stole an inbounds pass and then hit another layup to make it 28-23. Following another steal, DeWitt junior Jaynie English hit a 3-pointer to make it 28-26 Renaissance.