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King wins fifth consecutive PSL title, 68-66, over Renaissance
Detroit – The mystique continues.
Detroit King won its fifth consecutive Detroit Public School League girls basketball title on Friday as it escaped Calihan Hall with a 68-66 victory over Detroit Renaissance.
King (16-1), ranked No. 4 in Class A, avenged its only loss of the season with the victory. On Dec. 17 Renaissance, playing at home, defeated King 68-65.
King trailed just once and led the entire fourth quarter. Jordan Lewis opened the quarter with a basket to give the Lady Crusaders a 55-50 lead.
The quarter went back-and-forth as King was never able to pull away and Renaissance could never get over the hump.
Jasmine Flowers’ basket gave King a 65-61 lead with 1:29 left. Siyeh Frazer’s two free throws cut the lead in the half with 1:20 left and King had a number of opportunities to put the game away.
The Lady Crusaders missed five free throws in the final 51 seconds and it was Alicia Norman’s free throw with 5.4 seconds left that gave King its 68-66 lead.
Renaissance (15-4) had no time out left but the Phoenix were able to attempt a good shot as Frazier drive the length of the floor but her runner from the right base line missed as the horn sounded.
Frazier, who was named Miss PSL during awards ceremonies following the game, was outstanding. She scored 37 points and had six rebounds. Her 3-pointer with eight seconds left brought the Phoenix to within 67-66.
“Siyah has a heart of gold,” Renaissance coach Kiwan Ward said. “It’s hard to find a kid like her to play both ends. She plays to the end. We actually executed well on the last play.”
King’s full court pressure took its toll on a Renaissance team that has just three seniors. The Phoenix committed 23 turnovers to 15 for King.
Tia Tedford led King with 18 points. Norman added 14 Micaela Kelly 12. Lewis topped King with 10 rebounds.
Losing to Renaissance in December helped motivate the Lady Crusaders.
“We learned we had to play strong, play smart,” Tedford said. “We just wanted it more.
“(Five straight titles) means a lot. We just have to keep it going.”
Kelly said, for her, it meant more to win it for coach William Winfield.
“He’s a legend,” she said. “I want to dedicate this game to him. He won his 600th game when I was in ninth grade.
“Siyah stepped up. I look up to her. She pushed me to be a better player.”
Winfield shifted to praise to his players.
“The kids I get come with a winning attitude,” he said. “We’re lucky.”
