We can play Angry Birds

Prologue
Its my first trip to Coon Rapids and a quality evening.  Hot dog wasn't up to last night's standard but still average.  First root beer on my tally for the season.  Osseo opens their season in this one.  Coon Rapids on the other hand with a pair of blowout wins over Cambridge-Isanti and Big Lake (Big Lake let the game go from 4 down to 30 down without a timeout I'm told).  Late in warmups, the lights dim and here comes the Coon Rapids Cardinal comes out on a cushman (think mining cart).  My oh my does he look angry.  Great interaction with the fans all night.  Though his crown looked as much like a mohawk as anything else.  One of the best mascot performances I've seen in a long long time.  Music comes from the public address so you can make this your Night at the Roxbury.


Song of the Day
Haddaway - What is Love?

Game Time
Osseo jumps out 7-0 in the first 2 minutes.  Ian Theisen goes to the bench with 2 fouls at the 12:38 mark and that gives Coon Rapids opportunities to get the rim.  Edvonte Hibbler drive for 2 and then a 3.  11-10 Osseo at the 11:20 mark.  Hello Cardinal, how's your evening?  (Mascot meandering thru the crowd visiting).  Omat Okwan with a dunk to finish a 12-4 run for the first Cardinals lead, 12-11 at the 10 minute mark.  Neither team can break out the rest of the half.  Bridge Tusler all over people on defense to generate his own offense.  33-30 Orioles at the half.

Okwan with a pair of layups early in the half. Coon Rapids 36-35 lead with 15:05 to play.  Ian Theisen on the offensive glass for the 2nd time in the half and fouled for free throws.  That was after a Michael Brush putback.  Cal Bloom (a major revelation at the Tonka fall league) with a bunny inside and a drive.  Theisen off an inbounds pin and post.  Tusler finishes the 15-2 run with a layup.  50-38 Osseo with 8:55 left.  Theisen back on the offensive glass for 2 more free throws and he adds 2 for freebies to make the lead 14.  54-40 Orioles with 7:35 left.  EdVonte Hibbler with a layup to cut the lead to 56-48 with 4:35 left.  Theisen would hit 2 more free throws and score again on the post.  That puts the lead back to double digits.  Osseo wins 69-55.

Post Game
For Coon Rapids, they do end up with 4 guys in double figures.  Omot Okwan leads with 12, Edvonte Hibbler 11, Joe Churilla 11, EdDarie Hibbler 10.  No size really hurt the Cardinals in the 2nd half.  They have guards who are quick.  Cardinals fall to 2-1, 0-1 in NW Suburban play.  Irondale visits next Tuesday and then league play continues with a trip to upstart Elk River next Thursday.

For Osseo, they struggled in the season opener but got through it.  Michael Brush took advantage of looks to lead the Orioles with 16 points.  Bridge Tusler 14 points and 6 steals, most of that in the first half.  Ian Theisen with 11 points and 10 rebounds on my sheet.  Most of that in the 2nd half due to 1st half fouls.  He was too much for the small Cardinals lineup to handle on the offensive glass in that time.  DJ Hebert 12 points.  Osseo faces Prior Lake on Saturday in the Tipoff Classic.  Former summer teammates Ian Theisen and Carson Shanks the featured attraction in that game.  Osseo will likely throw a bunch of bodies at Jon Sobaski. Sounds like Will Johnson will be on a football visit this weekend and may not be available which is an important loss against Prior Lake's huge front line.