LOWELL — As the Hoosac Valley girls’ basketball team played keep away to chew up the final seconds in what had been a very heated Division 5 final in a 64-57 victory Sunday, frustrations mounted for Renaissance.

 

J’Dore Reese slammed the ball to the Tsongas Center floor after Sophia Wilson drilled a layup to increase Hoosac Valley’s lead to 62-57 with 5.7 seconds remaining.

 

Hoosac Valley players (from left) Maryn Cappiello, Emma Meczywor, and Izabela Tart celebrate as the Hurricanes pulled ahead in the fourth quarter against Renaissance in the Division 5 girls’ basketball state final Sunday at Tsongas Center.Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

 

The Phoenix led, 18-6, with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter, and by 13 at halftime.

 

It was not the ending they expected.

 

Aggression played a major role in the first two quarters, in which Renaissance had one player, sophomore Zh’Nai Wallace, ejected after two technicals. The second half continued with the same narrative, and it was the demise for Renaissance.

 

When her sister, eighth grader Zi-Yan Wallace (20 points, 26 rebounds) exited with 4:31 left with her fifth foul, leaving Renaissance now three bodies down, the fate was sealed for the No. 5 Phoenix (24-1), as Hoosac Valley (22-3) repeated as state champion thanks to a 42-point second half, outscoring its foe in the fourth quarter, 25-14.

 

“It’s always the goal every year, right?” Hoosac Valley coach Jon Frederick said. “The last game, to me, is the biggest one. Getting here, it’s a bonus. I think we had six different lineups throughout the year. We certainly didn’t think we’d be here in the beginning.”

 

Frederick expected the physicality from what transpired in last year’s semifinals.

 

“These kids are tough and they’ll fight for everything,” Frederick said. “Physicality, we knew was going to be there. We know what they’re about. So it’s all good when it comes down to it. They’ll go after every loose ball, and they’ll push and shove just as much.”

 

Senior guard Ashlyn Lesure (15 points) and sophomore guard Reagan Shea (17 points) provided the spark for Hoosac Valley. But the Hurricanes had no answer for Zi-Yan Wallace until she fouled out.

 

Hoosac Valley freshman Genevieve Lagess (left) tries to box out Renaissance eighth-grader Zi'Yan Wallace, who posted 20 points and 26 rebounds before fouling out with just over 4 minutes to go.  Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

 

With Zh’Nai Wallace off the court after scoring 6 points in the first quarter, Zi-Yan was keeping Renaissance ahead.

 

“She’s so skilled,” said Hoosac Valley’s Emma Meczywor. “She can dribble, she can shoot, she can finish in the post. We put Maryn Cappiello on her with a torn ACL, and for most of the game, [Wallace] pretty much owned her. So it was tough

 

Reese, a seventh-grader, and Rodriquez, a freshman, fought tirelessly to replicate the success of Zi-Yan Wallace, but to no avail. The Phoenix led 56-53 with 2:19 remaining, but Meczywor (12 points) gave Hoosac Valley its first lead of the game, 58-56, shortly after.

 

“Unfortunately, we had to experience a loss,” said Renaissance coach Joshua Baker, who noted the impact of the officiating. “It didn’t go in the way we thought it would, but we definitely played our hearts out.

 

“We were very emotional, and we had a young group of girls who this is their first time playing on a big stage like that. And I think they handled it better than we thought they would, and they executed how we expected them to execute.”

 

Hoosac Valley 64, Renaissance 57

at Tsongas Center, Lowell

 

Renaissance (24-1) 22 13 8 14 — 57

Hoosac Valley (22-3) 11 11 17 25 — 64

 

RENAISSANCE — Zi’Yan Wallace 6 7 20, Sy’Nye Baker 1 1 3, Kaylee Buzzell 3 6, Zh’Nai Wallace 1 2 4, Keishla Rodriguez 4 1 9, Jada Marrero 1 2, J’Dore Reese 6 1 13. Totals 22 12 57.

 

HOOSAC VALLEY — Maryn Cappiello 1 1 3, Genevieve Lagess 3 1 7, Emma Meczywor 3 5 11, Gianna Witek 1 0 3, Ashlyn Lesure 6 4 18, Reagan Shea 5 2 15, Sophia Wilson 2 3 7. Totals 21 16 64.

 

3-pt. goals: Zi’Yan Wallace; Gianna Witek, Ashlyn Lesure 2, Reagan Shea 3.

 

Hoosac Valley captain Ashlyn Lesure drives to the bucket in the decisive fourth quarter Sunday at Tsongas Center. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

 

Hoosac Valley’s Emma Meczywor nails a floater over the Renaissance defense as her team rallied in the fourth quarter for a Division 5 state title repeat. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

 

Renaissance seventh-grader J'Dore Reese drives around Hoosac Valley freshman Sophia Wilson to the bucket during Sunday's Division 5 state final. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe