Hawks clip Totino-Grace

Prologue
Duplication days begin with tonight's look at Cooper vs Totino-Grace (I'll likely see TG again on Saturday).  Its the hands down best bargain in metro concessions food with the $2 Taco In a Bag, but a twist tonight.  It was made with the Cool Ranch Doritos instead of the regular Nacho ones.  I had tempered expectations but the result was very good.  Though Her Majesty just sent me a note today hoping to see milk and apples on a menu sometime.  Irondale and Armstrong amongst the schools looking on and a college or 2.  We also get famous dads Kevin McHale and Anthony LaPanta in the building.  Have to mention the quality performance by the TG Percussion Ensemble.  Anything with multiple xylophones, especially on wheels, is going to get a quality review in my book.  A GopherLady look alike on the way home and John Lithgow (3rd rock from the Sun) look alike officiating.  So since we're on celebrities, let's go with one for our song of the day.

Song of the Day
Eddie Murphy - Party all the Time

Game Time
Back and forth early with both teams going zone.  Terrance Averyheart with a pair of 3s for Cooper around a Sam Meyer 3 for TG.  Nick Carr with a layup to beat the Cooper press.  14-13 Cooper at the 13 minute mark.  Averyheart with his 3rd 3 and a Charles Williams 3 point play for a 22-13 lead.  TG cuts the lead to 4 with Carr in the middle of the Cooper zone and a Alex Kreuser 3.  24-20 at the 10:10 mark.  Then Cooper breaks the game open.  Handful Pour with 3 3s, Rashad Vaughn with a steal for 2 and another turnover for an Averyheart 3 point play.  Over 7:50 just before the half its a 20-6 Cooper run that stretches the lead to 18.  Its 46-31 Cooper at the half.  Handful Pour 13 with 3 3s.  Averyheart 14 on 3 more 3s.

Second half isn't much better.  Kreuser starts the half with a 3 to cut the lead to 12 before Cooper stops that.  Williams for 3, Rashad Vaughn with a steal for an Averyheart layup, Vaughn cuts for a layup and a turnover gives him a big dunk.  57-37 with 13 minutes left.  TG 2 of 4 from the line before another Vaughn steal leads to him getting another dunk.  59-43 with 9 minutes left.  Another exciting play right after that and Cooper wins 85-66.

Post Game
Totino-Grace falls to 9-8, 4-5 in the North Suburban.  Alex Kreuser 17 of his 24 in the second half.  Sam Meyer 12 of his 16 in the first half.  Nick Carr with a nice showing inside with 14 points.  Cooper just too athletic on this night.  The Eagles travel to St. Francis on Friday and then have a quick turnaround hosting Anoka on Saturday afternoon.

Cooper improves 10-5, 5-3 in the North Suburban.  That 5-3 mark is a 4 way tie for 3rd in the league with Columbia Heights, Irondale and Spring Lake Park.  Terrance Averyheart 14 of his 25 in the first half.  Handful Pour 13 of his 16 in the first half.  Their 6 3s were big in breaking this one open.  Rashad Vaughn 12 points and he had at least 6 steals.  Very active getting his hands on the ball.  Raheem Tyner 8 points and close to double-digit rebounds.  The Hawks host Chisago Lakes on Friday before the quick 1 PM Saturday turnaround at home vs archrival Armstrong.  Cooper had a lengthy winning streak in the series snapped in the last meeting between the teams last year.