Detroit Renaissance falls short in bid for Division 1 state championship
Renaissance was seeking its first ever state championship in the highest classification.
East Lansing — The future is awfully bright for the Detroit Renaissance girls basketball program. But in the present, it wasn’t quite its time for a Division 1 state championship. Seeking its first ever state championship in the highest classification (Renaissance won Class B in 2005), Renaissance fell just short, victim of a late rally from Muskegon in a 34-29 title game loss at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
A team that plays four sophomores regularly, Renaissance couldn’t quite hold off a senior-laden Muskegon team that won its first championship in school history. “It came down to our offense and us needing to get a basket,” Renaissance head coach DaShaun Wood said. “And late, we couldn’t find that basket this time.
Our defense held us all year and they were another defensive team. They made a few more offensive plays than us and that was the separation. ” In a tight defensive struggle, Renaissance jumped out to a 15-2 lead and held a 27-21 lead with 4:59 remaining in the game after a 6-0 run.
From there, Muskegon displayed championship mettle, ending the game on a 13-2 run. Senior guard and Miss Basketball runner-up Mariah Sain started the rally with a short jumper, and then she hit two free throws with 3:28 remaining to make it 27-25 Renaissance. Muskegon junior center Dy’nasti Bell hit two free throws to tie the game at 27-27 with 1:56 left, and after a couple of near misses from Renaissance, Muskegon got the ball and put it into the hands of Bell, who hit a layup with 59.