U-M signee Ronald Coleman’s high school career came to a halt in heartbreaking fashion Wednesday night when rival Belleville tripped up Romulus for the third time this season. Coleman and Michigan Class of 2005 signee Jerret Smith both came up big in the second half, scoring 12 and seven points, respectively, to bring the Eagles back from 14 points down to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but poor free throw shooting – including four straight misses down the stretch by Smith, two with seven seconds left – sealed their fate in a 52-51 loss that knocked them out of the Michigan state Class A tournament.

“He’s taking it pretty hard,” Romulus head coach Nate Oats reported late Wednesday night.

But Smith was hardly the only one to blame. Romulus made just eight of 23 free throws after shooting 54 percent for the season.

“If we’d have shot even 50 percent from the line …,” Oats pondered.

“Free-throw shooting has been the story for us all season. We are 17-5 on the year and somehow were managing to win despite it.”

Romulus was down 40-29 when Belleville standout sophomore Leon Freeman hit a triple to extend the lead to 14 at 43-29 with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Eagles then went on a 17-1 run, taking the lead on back-to-back triples that put Romulus ahead 46-44 with 3:46.

“Ronnie was great,” said Oats. “He just missed another one from at least 26 feet that rimmed in and out.”

The lead went back and forth at least six times, and once again when Smith’s three-point play gave the Eagles a 50-49 lead with 1:06 remaining. But Romulus continued to miss free throws – eight of 10 down the stretch – and Freeman’s huge triple with 33 seconds ultimately proved the difference.

“I can’t put the loss on any one guy because it was the whole team,” Oats said. “Everyone is going to look at Jerret’s misses down the stretch, but really, if we make some in the first half and in the third and fourth quarters, then it doesn’t come down to Jerret having to make two to win.”

Oats spoke at length about Coleman’s career and Smith’s first season at Romulus – watch for more in the days ahead.

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In Canton, Mich. meanwhile, there wasn’t nearly as much drama in Detroit Renaissance’s 78-45 drubbing of Detroit Southwestern. U-M recruit Malik Hairston scored 11 points to help lead the Phoenix to a district semifinal win and a 21-0 record.

Over the weekend, Hairston paced Renaissance to the Operation Friendship title with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. TheWolverine.com’s DetroitBry was on hand to take in the annual meeting between champions of the PSL and Catholic Leagues.

Renaissance, having disposed of undefeated and number one rated Class A Detroit Denby, was looking forward to continuing its march

toward an undefeated season against a tough Orchard Lake St Mary's team led by guard Andre Ratliff and U-M football target Chris McLaurin, a junior defensive lineman.

OLSM kept it close early led by the strong play of Ratliff, who finished with 10 points, but eventually even he realized what many in the PSL have known all year -- that Hairston pretty much owns the paint especially when properly motivated.

One of Hairston blocks helped start off a third quarter run, capped by an alley-oop to senior Joe Crawford thrown by -- who else -- Malik. Rivals.com’s No. 2 shooting guard initiated Renaissance's second half run, displaying a shocking assortment of ball skills ranging from three-pointers (4), rebounds (9) and dunks (too many to count), helping put the Phoenix up by 20 to start the fourth quarter.

Hairston and fellow All-American (and Kentucky-bound) Crawford took turns throwing alley-oops to each other, with Malik attempting to sway the judges with degree of difficulty.

Hairston, who still lists UCLA, Ohio State, Kansas and Michigan among his suitors, has squelched rumors that he’s already committed to the Bruins, and is rumored to be considering another unofficial visit to U-M soon. He looks to make a decision by the end of March, culminating with Renaissance’s expected title win in the state tournament.

U-M football target and 6-foot-6 junior Carson Butler, a transfer from Lansing Waverly notching his first start, finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Butler seemed more relaxed than he’s been, and must be playing well for Coach White to have started him in this important game.

Butler, who has great athletic ability, provided Renaissance with more muscle than needed to beat an outgunned OLSM.

Butler is rated very highly as a prospect, and hopefully will be at the U-M football camp this summer so the Michigan coaches can get a handle on his best potential position.