RENAISSANCE vs. COOLEY

PSL WEST LEAGUE GAME #1

IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH HOW THE PSL WEST LEAGUE WORKS THEN YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT EVERY GAME IS A BATTLE! DETROIT COOLEY CAME INTO RENAISSANCE WITH A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER AND SOMETHING TO PROVE. AFTER BEING RANKED IN THE PRESEASON, COOLEY HAS A BETTER TEAM THAN YEARS PAST AND WERE LOOKING TO SHOW WHY.

THE 1ST QUARTER WAS SLOW PACED AS COOLEY ZONED UP THE PHOENIX TO CONTROL THE TEMPO. HOWEVER, THAT DIDN'T STOP CHENE PHILLIPS FROM SCORING 5 PTS AND THE PHOENIX GRABBING A 4 POINT LEAD GOING INTO THE 2ND QUARTER. COOLEY PICKED IT UP IN THE 2ND BUT PLAYED EVEN BASKET WITH THE PHOENIX AS RENAISSANCE TOOK A 4 POINT LEAD INTO HALFTIME.

IN THE 3RD QUARTER COOLEY MADE THEIR RUN BEHIND JAVONTHY BAYNES SCORING 8 POINTS INCLUDING TWO THUNDER DUNKS. THE PHOENIX GUARDS WOULDN'T LET UP ON THE PRESSURE THOUGH AND COOLEY CONTINUED TO TURN THE BALL OVER AT CRUCIAL MOMENTS IN THE GAME.

THE 4TH AND FINAL QUARTER WAS INTENSE WITH EACH TEAM TAKING THE LEAD AND GOING ON A RUN. THE PHOENIX HAD THE LAST RUN AND FOUND THEMSELVES UP 4 WITH 1:30 TO PLAY. AFTER GOING 1-4 FROM THE FT LINE AND CLUTCH THE 3 BY COOLEY, THE PHOENIX FOUND THEMSELVES NEEDING A STOP. COOLEY HAS THE BALL WITH 18 SECONDS LEFT DOWN THREE. THE PHOENIX GUARDS DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ALL GAME AND APPLY PRESSURE FORCING A COOLEY TURNOVER AND SEALING A 67-65 VICTORY AT HOME.

RENAISSANCE WAS LED BY CHENE PHILLIPS, WHO SCORED 17 ON HIS 24 POINTS IN THE 2ND HALF. MICHAEL HUNDLEY CONTROLLED THE PAINT AND INKED A TRIPLE DOUBLE WITH 11 POINS, 11 REBOUNDS AND 10 BLOCKS. JUNIOR GERALD JOHNSON WAS CLUTCH IN THE 4TH AND SCORED 13 POINTS FOR THE GAME. SENIOR COREY NORMAN, THE PHOENIX' SPARK PLUG, SCORED 10 POINTS AND ALSO GRABBE D 10 REBOUNDS.

JAVONTNY BAYNES LED COOLEY WITH 19 POINTS.

PHOENIX BOX SCORE