Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- In a small gym filled to capacity, the
Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team was less than seven minutes
away from continuing its incredible season. In their inaugural season,
the Wildcats stunned many as they advanced to the CIF Southern Section
Division VA playoffs.
Renaissance Academy, which has an enrollment of just 130 students, was
ready to continue its remarkable season, but poor judgment by several
players and outstanding play from Mesrobian put a sad end to its
campaign.
Bulldog guard Mike Gabriel scored 13 fourth-quarter points to lead his
squad to a 60-53 win Wednesday night at Renaissance. Sid Cooke's Wildcat
team shot just four for 26 (15.4%) from the field in the final eight
minutes.
Led by Eric Parker and Aaron Clitheroe, Renaissance (11-9) battled
back from a slow start to take a 42-41 lead with 6:58 remaining. But the
Wildcats sank just three field goals the rest of the way and key three
pointers late in the game by Gabriel -- who finished with a game-high 36
points -- put them away. Mesrobian improved to 9-6 and will face either
Big Pine or Apple Valley Christian on Friday.
"[In the fourth quarter] we ran out of gas and the lack of experience
took over," Cooke said. "They need this experience to get to the next
level. Every team we played this year has been stronger, faster and
bigger. We'll be back."
Parker had a team-high 21 points and Clitheroe added 18.
BOX SCORE
Mesrobian 13 10 16 21 -- 60
Renaissance 11 18 11 13 -- 53 Mesrobian -- Gabriel 36, Boursalian 14, Saliba 4, Manjikian 4,
Chakarian 2.
Three-pointers: Gabriel 5.
Renaissance -- Parker 21, Clitheroe 18, Loweree 5, Dinh 5, Lorch 4.
Three-pointers: Parker 4, Clitheroe.
