In a game of X’s and O’s, Renaissance Academy gets an F

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My colleague, Eric Sondheimer, said before the game that he thought Renaissance Academy would get out-coached in the boys’ Division V state final. Give that guy a pat on the back.

The Wildcats had all the size and talent they needed to defeat Ross Branson at Arco Arena in Sacramento. Unfortunately, you also need a plan, and Renaissance Academy didn’t seem to have one in mind.

Renaissance Academy hit another scoreless rut in the fourth quarter, going the first 5 1/2 minutes without a point. That opened the barn door for the Bulls to escape with a 40-33 victory and their third straight state title.

As I’ve written more times than my own name today, the Wildcats had a front line that was 6-10, 6-8 and 6-7, but Coach Sid Cooke preferred to go guard-for-guard against Branson, and Renaissance Academy paid the price.

DeAndre Daniels, a 6-8 sophomore forward who scored a team-high 20 points in the Southern California Regional final, barely played in the second half, checking in for Josh Thomas with just under six minutes left in the fourth quarter and then coming back out a few minutes later. Cooke had some harsh words for Daniels as he walked off the floor, but Daniels just ignored him.

The Wildcats didn’t score in the fourth quarter until reserve guard Yader Combs hit a three-pointer to cut Branson’s lead to 36-29 with 2:30 remaining.

Justin Thomas, the team’s leading scorer, was held to three points, and the big three for Renaissance Academy combined for six, all from 6-10 junior Anthony Stover, who only took six shots against 6-6 defender Curtis Elijah. Granted, the Bulls helped out Elijah whenever Stover touched the ball.

As for the referees, well, they’ve been pretty invisible so far, which is how you like them to be.

-- Dan Arritt