HS HOOPS: Renasissance Academy falls in D5 final
SACRAMENTO -- Renaissance Acadamy picked the wrong day for a total breakdown.
Fading under the pressure of the CIF State Div. V final against defending two-time champion Branson of Ross, Renaissance Academy shot 33 percent, committed 15 turnovers and totaled just one assist in a 40-33 loss before a crowd of about 3,500 at Arco Arena.
Renaissance Academy’s top player, Justin Cook, a three-time All-Southern Section pick who came in averaging 18 points per game, did not hit a field goal and finished with three points.
Trailing by five points entering the fourth quarter, Branson’s Curtis Elijah hit a quick 3-pointer, followed by a short jumper to stretch the lead to 36-26. From that point, the Wildcats, their body language dejected and defeated, never got closer than seven.
Twice Renaissance Academy went more than five minutes without a point, and the Wildcats didn’t score in the fourth quarter until Yader Combs’ 3-pointer with 2:25 remaining, making it 36-29.
“There was a lot of frustration,” Renaissance Academy’s Anthony Stover said. “It seemed at halftime, we were down by five points, and everyone kind of felt like we already lost it.”
Renaissance Academy (27-4), comprised of just 65 students, is in only its eighth year, and coach Sid Cooke believes there will be better times ahead. He noticed his players were dragging down the stretch, but the coach chalked it up to inexperience.
“It’s part of being a growing program trying to get to that next level,” Cooke said. “It was a big game, and maybe there were some jitters. It’s just about being mentally tough.”
So distraught was Cook that he could barely comment. When asked what happened, he said: “I don’t know,” then broke down.
“I think Justin just got caught up in the game and didn’t have his rhythm a little bit,” Cooke said. “But (Branson) had a lot to do with that. One bad game doesn’t define him.”
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com