MAPLE GROVE WENT UP AGAINST ROBBINSDALE COOPER IN A BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On Dec. 13, Maple Grove and Robbinsdale Cooper squared off in a boys’ basketball game.

Maple Grove started the game off in a zone defense. They wanted to try to make Cooper take deep 3-point shots. Cooper did take deep 3-point shots but was not able to make them early.

Maple Grove looked to push the ball down the floor and take time off the clock.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively as neither team made shots early.

Maple Grove got the ball into the hands of Alex Battist. Battist came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

There were multiple ties and lead changes throughout the first half.  

The Cooper defense tried to make it difficult for the Maple Grove offense to come up with shots throughout the first half.

Maple Grove was able to hit shots late in the first half. 

Cooper called a timeout with 2:58 left in the first half. The score was Maple Grove 26, Cooper 20.

As the first half winded down Maple Grove continued to come up with shots. At halftime the score was Maple Grove 33, Cooper 20.

As the second half got underway Maple Grove continued to push the ball down the floor and come up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Coper did a good job of attacking the basket and looking for their shots in the second half.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 14:05 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 39, Cooper 32.

Cooper’s Jalen Justice came up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 12:08 left in regulation. The score was Maple Grove 44, Cooper 40.

Maple Grove passed the ball around the 3-point line to take time off the clock and look for their shots.

Cooper’s Nathan Hill came up with mid-range jump shots and layups in the second half.

The game was close midway through the second half.

Cooper’s Jalen Justice came up with deep 3-point shots in the second half. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

Cooper called a timeout with 6:26 left in regulation. The score was tied at 50.

There were multiple ties and lead changes late in the second half.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 4:12 left in regulation. The score was Cooper 54, Maple Grove 52.

The score remained close. Both teams looked for steals on defense and looked to take the ball hard to the basket.

Neither team gave up an uncontested shot late.

Cooper called a timeout with 9.2 left in regulation. The score was tied at 58.

The score was tied at 58 at the end of regulation.

As the start of the overtime period Cooper passed the ball around the 3-point line as they looked to get into their offense. They went to a motion offense as they looked to take as much time off the clock as they could.

Maple Grove’s Alex Battist and Jared Rainey both came up with huge baskets throughout the game. They were able to come up with mid-range jump shots and layups.

Maple Grove called a timeout with 1:23 left in the overtime period. The score was Cooper 63, Maple Grove 60.

Both teams continued to push the ball down the floor and come up with layups and jump shots.

Maple Grove’s Jared Rainey got fouled with 3.0 seconds left in the overtime period. That made the score Maple Grove 65, Cooper 64. Cooper called a timeout right after the free throw.

Maple Grove came away with the 65-64 over Cooper.

The leading scorers for Cooper were Justice with 21 and Nathan Hill with 16 points.

The leading scorers for Maple Grove were Rainey with 13 points and Battist with 10 points.

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoop Czar. Check out his thoughts of the Maple Grove Cooper boys’ basketball game.