JAN. 6TH, 2009

DETROIT RENAISSANCE vs. DETROIT COOLEY

BACK FROM CHRISTMAS BREAK AND AFTER GOING 2-1 IN HOLIDAY CLASSIC ACTION, THE PHOENIX JUMPED RIGHT INTO PSL SEST LEAGUE PLAY. FACING THE COOLEY CARDINALS AT HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2009, THE PHOENIX GOT A TOUGH CHALLENGE FROM COOLEY. EVERY LEAGUE IS GRITTY, PLAYED HARD NOSED AND THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. COOLEY JUMPEP OUT EARLY ON THE PHOENIX AND FINISHED THE QUARTER LEADING 14-13. AFTER REGROUPING BY THE PHOENIX, RENAISSANCE WENT ON THEIR OWN RUN IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND WENT INTO HALFTIME WITH A 28-22 LEAD.

THE PACE OF THE GAME WAS MOSTLY DICTATED BY THE PACKED IN ZONE DEFENSE COOLEY WAS PLAYING. THEIR INTENTION WAS TO SLOW THE GAME DOWN FOR THE PHOENIX AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. COOLEY'S ZONE KEPT THE PHOENIX ON THE ARC AND ULTIMATELY KEPT THE GAME CLOSE. RENAISSANCE HELD COOLEY TO JUST 8 POINTS IN THE 3RD BUT COULD ONLY SCORE 9POINTS THEMSELVES. GOING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER, RENAISSANCE HELD A 37-30 LEAD AND THE CLOSEST COOLEY COULD GET WAS WITHIN 3 POINTS AS TIME EXPIRED.

RENAISSANCE WAS LED BY SENIOR DANIEL SUTHERLIN'S SIXTH DOUBLE DOUBLE THIS SEASON. DANIEL FINISHED WITH 24 POINTS AND 12 REBOUNDS. SENIOR DELANO COLLINS PLAYED A SOLID FLOOR GAME CONTROLLING THE TEMPO AND STUFFING THE BOX SCORE. DELANO HAD 8 POINTS,7 REBOUNDS, 5 ASSISTS, AND 3 STEALS. JUNIOR PHILLIPS CHIPPED IN 8 POINTS. RENAISSANCE IMPROVES TO 6-1 ON THE SEASON WITH A FIRST PLACE PSL WEST SHOWDOWN COMING AT HENRY FORD ON FRIDAY JANUARY 9TH, 2009.

COOLEY WAS LED BY OTESSE JOHNSON WITH 10 POINTS.

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PHOENIX BOX SCORE