Wildcats

ONTARIO - There were just a few inches that separated the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team from the CIF State Boys' Division V championship game. The Wildcats looked to their standout guard Vince De Guzman to hit a deep, game-winning three-pointer, but his shot did not fall, as Village Christian got the one-point victory, 58-57, in the Division V Championships Southern California Regional Final at Colony High on the heels of a deep three from its star Bryan Alberts. "It was a good run, [this game]

Members and coaches of the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team frequently point to their challenging regular season schedule as a reason for their ongoing postseason success. Now that experience is proving to be quite relevant to the Wildcats' quest for a state title in a more direct way, as they will have a rematch with a regular season foe for the second state tournament contest in a row. It worked out pretty well for Renaissance in the CIF State Boys' Division V Championships Southern California Bracket semifinal on Tuesday, when the Wildcats avenged an earlier loss to Ribet by beating the Fighting Frogs, 75-59, to advance to the Southern California finals, where they will meet Village Christian at 3 p.m. Saturday at Colony High in Ontario.

When the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team captured its first CIF championship on March 3, players jumped into each other's arms, a few tears flowed and emotions ran high. None of which is an uncommon sight when a team reaches its ultimate goal together after months of striving, but for Wildcats senior guard Vince De Guzman, the moment carried an extra poignant touch of bittersweet sentiment. "It felt amazing capturing a CIF title. It feels good just winning it, not only for the team, but for my dad's memory," says De Guzman, who lost his father Napoleon De Guzman to a heart attack over the summer.

PASADENA - There was a different energy in the air than there has been all season for the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team when it took on Ribet Academy. It could have been that it was the semifinals of the CIF State Boys' Division V Championships Southern California Bracket tournament or that the second-seeded Fighting Frogs bested the Wildcats by one point earlier this season in Harbor League play. In the end, Renaissance got revenge and the one that mattered most in a 75-59 victory at Pasadena City College's Hutto-Patterson gym Tuesday night.

Though the Renaissance Academy basketball team recently won its first CIF Southern Section Division VI championship, many of the players haven't forgotten the last loss pinned on them. That occurred Feb. 7, when Renaissance suffered a 57-56 Harbor League defeat to Ribet Academy. The Wildcats shook off the loss, having since won seven games in a row. Third-seeded Renaissance (26-6) will get another crack at second-seeded Ribet (21-10) when the teams meet at 7 p.m. today in a CIF State Boys' Division V Championships Southern California Bracket semifinal contest at Pasadena City College, with Ribet as the home team.

PASADENA - Throughout the season, Renaissance Academy's Rick Hilaire has seen his playing time limited because of groin and ankle problems. But in a pivotal moment in the season Saturday evening, the senior guard provided a huge boost, posting 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks to lead the Wildcats to an 83-58 rout over Rock Academy in the second round of the CIF State Boys' Division V Basketball Championships Southern California bracket....

Following the first round of games in the CIF State Boys' Division V Basketball Championships Southern California bracket, Renaissance Academy Coach Sid Cooke wasn't surprised with some of the upsets that took place. If anything, it made Cooke that more demanding of his players in the Wildcats' quest to win the state tournament for the first time after winning the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship. "Nothing surprises me because it's state and anything can happen," said Cooke, whose third-seeded Wildcats (25-6)

PASADENA - All season long, the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team has leaned on the play of its starters. It was the Wildcats' bench that picked up the slack and delivered 35 points in a 79-51 victory over Vincent Memorial High Tuesday in the first round of the Southern California Regional of the CIF State Division V Championships at Pasadena City College's Hutto-Patterson Gym. "Our starters didn't come out ready, they were anxious,...

SANTA ANA - Apparently, even juggernauts get nervous. A heavy favorite to capture the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship before the playoffs even began, the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team still wasn't immune to the jitters that come with the pressure of being one win away from the ultimate goal. "We're not used to playing in front of big crowds," Wildcats senior guard Vince De Guzman said. "It was just a lot of nerves. " In the end, it made for little more than a tight first quarter, though, as Renaissance had opened up a double-digit lead by halftime and closed the door for good in the first minutes of the fourth quarter.

SANTA ANA - Both the Renaissance Academy and California Lutheran boys' basketball teams looked to their stars to deliver a CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship. The two stars collided as Renaissance forward Jessy Cantinol and California Lutheran center Ryan Smith squared off at Mater Dei High Saturday morning with a championship on the line. Only one star was still shining when all was said and done, though, as Cantinol got the best of Smith, scoring a game-high 19 points and pulling down a team-high nine rebounds.