BOYS BASKETBALL: Renaissance Academy vs. Branson

Wildcats' reign didn't happen overnight

By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer

Renaissance Academy, in its eighth year of fielding a boys basketball team, has experienced a multitude of emotions this season.
The Wildcats (27-3) upgraded their schedule and faced off against highly touted Simi Valley and Etiwanda. Both games resulted in losses.
They also pounded a pair of area teams with victories over La Canada and Maranatha.
Renaissance Academy received the No. 1 seed for the CIF-Southern Section Division III-A playoffs and appeared destined to return to the title game where it had suffered a loss a year ago.
But the Wildcats let one slip away in a 62-56 loss to eventual champion West Valley in the semifinals.
A team expected to take the title, Renaissance Academy, not only was searching for answers but bracing for a new challenge of chasing after a state title.
Nearly two weeks and three games later, the Wildcats are all smiles again.
The grins were ear to ear following Saturday's 55-52 win over CIF-SS and state power Price in the CIF State Southern California Division V Regional final Saturday at Mater Dei.
Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke credited past players in paving the path to success.
"A lot of the players of the past sacrificed a lot and we were close for many years," Cooke said. "The work ethic of the guys previous helped get us to where we're at. We've accomplished a lot in eight years."
After playing three games in five nights, Cooke has the entire week to prepare for his team's biggest game of the year when the Wildcats face off against Branson of Ross in the State Division V championship game Saturday at Arco Arena in Sacramento.
"It's good because we're doing running drills for a half hour to try to pick up our conditioning," Cooke said. "It gives us a good chance to work on it."
Cooke won't be going into the contest against Branson blindly, either.
"My brother lives up there in the area and has seen them a couple of times, so he's going to give us some information on them," Cooke said.
Cooke said the Wildcats' journey to Sacramento is more of a culmination of growing pains for the little school on Cornishon Avenue.
"When I first got here we had nine kids, one on a skateboard, and the other eight shooting around and we were practicing outside," Cooke said. "It was a challenge, and I never imagined to get this far."
COOK ON FIRE
Senior guard Justin Cook has been the guiding force for Renaissance Academy during the state playoffs.
Cook is averaging just over 16 points per contest in three games, including a 20-point performance in Saturday's 55-52 win over Price in the Southern California Division V regional final.