DEC. 23rd 2008 - THROWDOWN IN MOTOWN CLASSIC @ WEST BLOOMFIELD

DETROIT RENAISSANCE vs. SAGINAW HIGH

THE PHOENIX HAD THE TWO-TIME DEFENDING CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONS COME INTO TOWN AND THEY GAVE THEM A HANDFUL. RENAISSANCE IS PLAYING CLASS A THIS YEAR, SO PLAYING SOME TOUGH GAMES EARLY IN THE SEASON SHOULD SPEAK WELL ONCE THE STATE PLAYOFFS BEGIN. THE FIRST QUARTER STARTED WITH THE PHOENIX HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS EARLY. WITH 3 SECONDS REMAINING IN QUARTER, RENAISSANCE WAS UP 4 UNTIL SAGINAW DRAINED A DEEP 3 POINTER AT THE BUZZER. RENAISSANCE HELD ONTO THE LEAD INTO THE SECOND AND TOOK A 42-37 LEAD INTO HALFTIME.

THE TROJANS WERE BOUND TO MAKE A RUN AND THEY DID JUST THAT IN THE THIRD. RENAISSANCE MISSED A FEW OPPORTUNITES AROUND THE BASKET TO STOP THE BLEEDING, BUT SAGINAW WOULD END UP GOING ON A 16-2 RUN AND HAD AN 8 POINT LEAD GOING INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER. THE PHOENIX KEPT FIGHTING AND THE GAME NEVER GOT OUT OF HAND. WITH THE THREE MINUTES TO PLAY, THE PHOENIX GOT A HUGE HUSTLE PLAY FROM DANIEL SUTHERLIN BEING DOWN JUST SIX WITH THE BALL. SUTHERLIN WOULD THEN DRIVE TO THE BASKET AND GOT FOULED ON A SHOT ATTEMPT THAT RIMMED OUT. BOTH FREE THROWS WERE MISSED AND THAT WAS HARD TO RECOVER FROM FOR THE PHOENIX.

RENAISSANCE WAS LED ONCE AGAIN BY DANIEL SUTHERLIN. HE'S HAS BEEN PLAYING TREMENDOUSLY FOR THE PHOENIX AND HAD 26 POINTS AND 12 REBOUNDS. DELANO COLLINS SHOWED WHAT KIND OF LEADER HE WAS WITH HIS PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. HE KEPT HIS TEAM IN IT AND FINISHED WITH 18 POINTS. CHENE PHILLIPS CAME UP BIG ALSO, SCORING 15 POINTS AND DISHING OUT 4 ASSISTS.

TOMMIE McCUNE LED SAGINAW WITH 19 POINTS AND MIKE GREEN ADDED 18.

PHOENIX BOX SCORE