Joe with the leaner

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Thanks to some very good defense on GPN’s part and an overwhelmingly unfavorable whistle for the home team, the Norsemen kept the Renaissance stars in check early. Joe Crawford (who came into the game averaging over 25 points) and Malik Hairston were responsible for all 9 of Renaissance’s first quarter points (with 5 and 4 respectively…and none of them came easily. On the other end of the court the Norsemen utilized great ball movement, especially in breaking Renaissance’s press, to get good looks at the basket. At the end of, the home crowd was startled to see the Phoenix down 12-9.

Joe takes it to the rack!

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GPN continued devote most of their defensive attention to Crawford and Hairston in the 2nd quarter. That, however, left openings for other Phoenix players. Senior forward Adam Sabree and Sophomore guard TaJuan Porter scored 16 of the Phoenix’s 22 points in the 2nd quarter (8 each) to propel their team to a 31-20 halftime lead. Crawford went into the locker room with 7 points while Hairston went in had 6. Though GPN experienced great success against the two stars up until that point, everyone in the gym knew it wouldn’t last. It has become evident over the past couple of years that teams can’t keep these two players down for long.

Malik came out in the third quarter and nailed his first of three second half 3 pointers to push the lead to 34-20. Even though the two teams would trade buckets the next few times down the court, and the deficit wouldn’t decrease, it seemed as though the Norsemen were regaining their confidence. That’s when Crawford and Hairston

Joe attacks the basket again

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took over. Up 38-25 and with GPN finding it’s range form the outside, Crawford answered the next 3 Norseman baskets with 6 straight points of his (2 of which came on a thunderous slam on the break!) Hairston followed that up with another 3 pointer to put the Phoenix 47-32. Still, the gritty Norsemen, fueled by a substantial cheering section, continued to fight back. They threatened to chip the lead below 10 once again before Crawford and Hairston answered with one final run. They accounted for all 11 Phoenix points during a brief period early in the 4th (on 6 from Crawford and 5 from Hairston) to put Renaissance up 64-43 and allow Coach White to sit his stars on the bench for the rest of the game. Crawford finished the night with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals while Hairston finished with 18 points and 9 boards. Porter and Sabree accounted for all but 6 of Renaissance’s remaining points, with 12 apiece.

Renaissance’s next game take place at the Circle City Classic Challenge of Champions High School Basketball Showcase on Friday, January 2, 2004 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis. The Phoenix will take on Indiana’s #1 ranked team, Lawrence North. North is led by 7-0 240-lbs. man-child Greg Oden, whom was one of only a few high school sophomores to be to be invited to the Nike All-American camp last year (another was Brandon Wright). Oden is an amazing talent that will never spend a day on a college court. That game will be a tremendous match up! As exciting as that contest sounds, it won’t be the only big time battle! Below is the full slate of games.

2:00 p.m. Indianapolis Cathedral vs. Lexington (KY) Catholic
4:00 p.m. North Central vs. Mason County (KY)
6:00 p.m. Lawrence North vs. Detroit (MI) Renaissance
8:00 p.m. Pike vs. Peoria (IL) Central

The list of high major players on tap is impressive. Fans that make it out to the Classic will be able to see Joe Crawford, Malik Hairston, Shaun Livingston, Greg Oden, A.J. Ratliff, Demetrius Green, and Courtney Lee. If you’re a basketball fan and you can make, GO!!

We stayed after the Renaissance game to watch the Detroit King Crusaders take on Riverview Pirates, and once again, the visitor gave the hometown Detroit team all it could handle. King super sophomore Ramar Smith was held in check in the first half, netting only 4 points. Riverview slowed the game down and stymied King’s up-tempo style. The Pirates, in turn, went into the half up 19-14. In the second half Smith forced the issue and brought the Crusaders back. Riverview still wouldn’t allow King to run very much, so Smith decided instead to take the ball aggressively to the rack within the halfcourt sets. He knocked down 17 second-half points on the way to a hard fought 46-40 win

Below are the results from the other 2 games at the classic:
Detroit Denby 81, Flint Central 72
Detroit Redford 68, South Lyon 49