Ram Country, Here We Come

EAST LANSING — Detroit Renaissance head coach DaShaun Wood was short yet succinct describing the final minute of his team’s Division 1 Semifinal against DeWitt on Friday.

“It’s like my heart stopped a few times for sure,” Wood said.

He probably wasn’t the only one in what was a thrilling finish to a defensive struggle.

Renaissance ultimately prevailed, advancing to its first Division 1 championship game since 2021 with a 32-28 triumph over a DeWitt team that nearly made it two improbable comebacks in a row. 

On Tuesday in a Quarterfinal upset of No. 1-ranked and 2025 Division 1 champion Belleville, DeWitt rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half and a seven-point deficit to start the fourth quarter. 

Trailing 28-19 midway through the fourth quarter Friday and having scored just two points during the second half up to that point, DeWitt all of a sudden went on a quick 7-0 run to cut the Renaissance lead to 28-26 with 2:57 remaining in the game.

After the teams traded baskets to make it 30-28 Renaissance, the Phoenix tried to take time off the clock during the final minute and were fouled on two occasions. On both trips to the line, Renaissance missed both free throws – but got the ball back off the second misses both times to retain possession.

“Yeah, that was tough,” DeWitt head coach Bill McCullen said. “We’re so close to one, but we stepped on the end line (after grabbing the rebound), which would have been a huge possession. Obviously, we felt like we had some momentum building and getting our crowd into it.”

Following a timeout, Renaissance sophomore Kassidy Cain was fouled with 15.3 seconds left. Cain sank both free throws to make it 32-28, and Renaissance got one more stop to seal the game. 

The Phoenix hopes to win its first Finals title in the largest classification against Muskegon. Renaissance’s previous championship was won in Class B in 2005.

“They’re hungry,” Wood said of Muskegon. “They’re seniors, and they know what’s on the line. We know we’re going to get their best shot.” 

Only one player in the game scored in double figures – DeWitt senior Sophia Beland, who finished with 10 points. 

Trailing 17-14 at halftime, Renaissance surged ahead with a strong third quarter, outscoring DeWitt 12-2 in the stanza to take a 26-19 lead into the fourth. 

“I thought in the first half, we never really settled in offensively,” Wood said. “We’ve had those moments a few times this year, just settling into the game and believing in our abilities.”

DeWitt, which was supposed to go through something of a rebuilding year with just two seniors, finished 22-5 and figures to have a bright future.

In addition to Beland, Carly Dennis was the other senior.

“I’m not sure I can be any more proud of the two of them, their leadership and what they accomplished,” McCullen said his seniors. “Not just this season, but in their careers. We put a lot on both of their shoulders. I mean, you can see today they rarely come out of the game, and we ask a lot of them both offensively and defensively.”

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Renaissance’s Maria Walker (1) follows a screen from teammate Jaebri’an Autry (22) during their team’s win over DeWitt on Friday. (Middle) The Panthers’ Jaynie English (22) and Carly Dennis contend with Walker for possession. (Photos by Keionna Banks and John Castine/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)