TWO UNDEFEATED TEAMS DO BATTLE

Hopkins comes to Robbinsdale Cooper for a non-conference battle of unbeaten teams. Hopkins is ranked number 1 and Robbinsdale Cooper is ranked number 3 in the latest Star Tribune poll. This game is an announced sell out. This game features two of the state’s top boys basketball players in Rodney Maurice Williams from Cooper and Royce Alexander White from Hopkins. Both will attend the University of Minnesota next season.

Both of these teams got out to a quick start. Both of these teams play with a lot of emotion they have to keep the intensity up to come away with the victory. Cooper had a hard time finding the basket in the early goings, as they came out a little flat to open the game up. They used their first time out at the 13:30 mark down 8-2.

With 11:45 in the half, Cooper went on a run and they gave Hopkins a little scare. But Hopkins was not scared as they also kept on grinding it out. Joe Bright was able to hit a couple of mid range jumpers to keep Cooper close in the middle of the first half.

With 5:40 left in the first half Rodney Maurice Williams picked up his 2nd personal foul. He was then taken out of the game. He doesn’t want to be in foul trouble at the end of this game. Cooper continued to play hard and kept after the Royals. With 2:30 left to go in the first half Rodney Williams reentered the game. He picked up his third foul with 1:36 in the half and spent the rest of the half on the bench.

In the first half both teams fought hard and they played with a lot of emotion and energy. Hopkins had a 48-40 lead at the half time break.

The second half got out to a quick start as both teams looked to push the ball up the court. Hopkins began to pull away in the first four minutes of the second half. They were able to get a 56-44 lead with just under 14:00 to go in the second half.

Cooper stuck with zone on the defensive end. They have used both man and zone here very effectively tonight. Cooper was able to battle back and they went on a run mid way through the second half. Cooper was gone cold mid way through the second half. They have not been able to capitalize on the shots that they have been putting up. Hopkins was able to put the hammer down.

Hopkins was able to hold on for the victory in the game. They were able to wear down the Cooper Hawks in this game. Royce Alexander White played well tonight he showed his ability and I thought that he did prove why he will be playing for the University of Minnesota next season. I also thought that Rodney Maurice Williams played well in this game despite getting into foul trouble.

The final of the game was Hopkins 100 and Cooper 78.

Cooper coach Dave Johnson was clearly disappointed after this game. He knows that he has a good team but what hurt them in this game was their size. They also got hurt in their 2-3 zone when Rodney was in foul trouble he was on the weak side to help prevent them scoring.

Ken Novak thought that they played sloppy defense at times and then really turned it on in some points of the game. They need to play the solid defense the whole game to be successful. He thought that Royce Alexander White played well in this environment tonight. Both teams came out a little jumpy and after every one settled they were better off.

Royce Alexander White said that he likes playing in this type of environment. Most of the games at Hopkins are packed out so the noise and the big crowd don’t affect him that much.

The Twin Cities Hoops Czar was also here tonight . Read his story about this game here.