JAN. 9TH, 2009

DETROIT RENAISSANCE vs. HENRY FORD HS

TWO OF THE PSL'S WEST LEAGUE BEST TEAMS PLAYED A TOUGH BATTLE FOR FOUR QUARTERS. HENRY FORD AND THEIR RELENTLESS DEFENSE LED TO SOME EARLY TURNOVERS BY THE PHOENIX AND TOOK A 15-12 LEAD AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER. THE SECOND QUARTER WAS MUCH OF THE SAME, HOWEVER THE PHOENIX BATTLED A 12 POINT LEAD DOWN TO 7 GOING INTO HALFTIME.

HENRY FORD HAD A 32-25 LEAD AT HALFTIME BUT COULDN'T KEEP IT, AS RENAISSANCE GUARD'S GOT INTO PASSING LANES AND CREATED SOME TURNOVERS. THE PHOENIX WOULD GET WITHIN THREE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER AS FORD LED 46-43.

THE LAST QUARTER WAS MORE LIKE THE LAST ROUND OF A CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT. EACH POSSESSION WAS CRITICIAL FOR BOTH TEAMS. WITH THE SCORE 50-47 WITH 2:30 TO PLAY, HENRY FORD NAILED A BASELINE PRAYER AND TOOK THE LEAD TO 6. HOWEVER, THE PHOENIX DIDN'T LET UP AND WITH 1:14 TO PLAY THE LED WAS JUST 5. THE FREE THROW LINE WASN'T KIND TO THE PHOENIX IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. THEY PROCEEDED TO MISS 3 STRAIGHT FRONT END ONE AND ONE'S AND FORD HELD THAT 5 POINT LED ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL 7 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK.

RENAISSANCE SHOWED PERSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY PLAYED TO THE BUZZER. FORD WOULD MISS A FREE THROW WITH 7 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK AND DELANO COLLINS DRIBBLED THE LENGTH OF THE COURT AND NAILED A THREE AS TIME EXPIRED. HOWEVER, TIME DIDN'T EXPIRE BECAUSE THE RENAISSANCE BENCH WOULD CALL THEIR LAST TIMEOUT AS THE BALL WENT THROUGH THE NET.

SO, WITH 2 SECONDS PLACED BACK ON THE CLOCK, FORD TOOK THE BALL OUT AND PASSED IT IN TO KARRIEM BAKER BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM HE LANDED OUT OF BOUNDS.

THE PHOENIX WOULD GET THE BALL ON THEIR SIDELINE WITH 0:01 LEFT ON THE CLOCK. DELANO COLLINS HAD A GOOD LOOK AT A THREE BUT FELL SHORT AND FORD WOULD ESCAPE A TWO POINT VICTORY AT HOME.

SENIOR DELANO COLLINS SHOWED WHY HE IS ONE OF THE BEST GUARD'S IN THE PSL WITH A 18 POINT, 4 STEAL PERFORMANCE. SENIOR DANIEL SUTHERLIN RECORDED HIS 7TH DOUBLE DOUBLE ON THE SEASON WITH 12 POINTS AND 10 REBOUNDS. SENIOR DURRELL CARTER, WHO IS THE EMOTIONAL LEADER OF THE PHOENIX, PLAYED THE BEST GAME OF HIS CAREER. HE FINISHED WITH 10 POINTS, 5 REBOUNDS AND A BLOCK THAT WOWED THE PACKED GAME AT FORD. OTHER SOLID PREFORMERS FOR RENAISSANCE INCLUDED CHENE PHILLIPS WITH 6 POINTS AND 7 REBOUNDS ALONG WITH BRANDYN MUNGRO WITH 8 POINTS ALL IN THE SECOND HALF.

HENRY FORD WAS LED BY THEIR BIG MAN INSIDE, KARRIEM BAKER WITH A GAME HIGH 24 POINTS AND 13 REBOUNDS. MATT HUNTER ALSO ADDED 13 POINTS.

PHOENIX BOX SCORE