Hawks win another 1st round road playoff game

Prologue
To Maple Grove for the section 5AAAA 4 vs 5 game.  A big line of fans outside the door right before tip of this Cooper vs Crimson battle is enough to make steam come out of my ears and my face turn red.  So the late arrival once again means no concessions which is a disappointment.  Kansas and Minnesota on hand to watch Rashad Vaughn.  Flip Saunders enjoying the game with Tubby.  I can imagine the conversation.  Hey Tubby, is the job really that hard, I could do it couldn't I?

Game Time
Rashad Vaughn with 7 points in the 1st 3 minutes as he buries a 3, pulls up for a jumper and puts back a miss.  9-8 Cooper at the 15 minute mark.  Maple Grove post Erik Olson with a huge night.  He reaches double figures at the 11:10 mark.  19-16 Maple Grove lead.  Olson with a putback for a 3 point play.  24-20 Crimson at the 8:01 mark.  29-26 when Lavar McCollough knocks down his 2nd 3 of the half and back to back buckets by Billy Kellogg for a 7-0 run.  39-33 Cooper at the half.

9-2 Maple Grove run to start the 2nd half with Jake Weineke knocking down a 3 for the lead.  He had 5 of the 9 points in the run.  McCollough back to back for 3 and Vaughn inside for 2 free throws.  8-0 run and Cooper has their biggest lead 49-42 with 13:13 left.  Grant Kaufman keeping the Crimson close.  A 3 point play cuts the lead to 4, then a free throw and Olson puts back a miss.  55-52 Cooper with 9:15 left.  McCollough with a putback and a Kellogg triple to extend the lead to 8.  Maple Grove taking quick shots and they were cold the rest of the way.  Vaughn 3 of 4 free throws with good patience out of a high triangle psuedo delay that gave Vaughn an iso at the foul line.  67-56 Cooper with 5:26 to go.  A couple more Vaughn buckets keep the lead intact.  Cooper wins 78-67.

Post Game
Maple Grove finishes their season 16-10, 13-7 in the tough NW Suburban.  Erik Olson a big night with 33 points and likely double digit rebounds.  The lefty had his way inside most of the night.  He also showed nice touch going off the glass.  Jake Weineke with a couple of 3s and 19 points.  Plus he had the task of guarding Vaughn most of the night.  Olson, Weineke and point guard Bryce Wojta will be signficant losses.

Cooper once again goes on the road to win in the 1st round.  They'll get a rematch with Park Center who they beat in the 1st round last year.  Rashad Vaughn 28 points and 9 rebounds.  Most of that going to the rim after some early cold shooting.  Fellow wing Lavar McCollough comes up big with 4 3s and 20 points.  His back to back 3s after Maple Grove took the lead early in the 2nd half loomed large.  The Hawks get nothing from the bench but 9,10 and 11 from the rest of the starters.  That should be an outstanding semifinal against the Pirates.   Star power, athleticism, and ability to light up the scoreboard at a quality venue.