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Tip Off Classic preview: Robbinsdale Cooper vs. Crookston

By Breakdown Staff, 11/29/12, 9:00AM CST

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3:00 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1 at Hopkins Lindbergh Old Court

Preview

From the far north to the first ring of Twin Cities suburbs comes this matchup between Crookston and Robbinsdale Cooper at the 9th annual Breakdown’s Tip Off Classic. Although the two programs are different, they’re seeking the same goal – a trip to the state tournament in March.

Cooper is coming off a 23-victory season, but lost a pair of All-Conference forwards. Their departure leaves coach Jen Rademacher with an undersized, but very tough team led by point guard Chelsey McGee and guard Talayiah Rich. Meanwhile, Crookston returns its top three scorers in Sydney Boike, Erica Samuelson and Brooke Heggie from a 17-victory team. The Pirates have good size with Heggie at 6-foot-1.

 

Key Matchup

Taylor Demarais vs. Chelsey McGee
The floor generals will stand out in this game, with steady Taylor Demarais going head-to-head with explosive Chelsey McGee. Demarais is a three-year starter at the point for Crookston and does a great job distributing the ball. She’ll be challenged by the speed of McGee, who is quickness personified. If Demarais can keep McGee from driving the rim and creating offense, Crookston will win. If McGee isn’t bottled up, Cooper will win.

Prediction

Why Robbinsdale Cooper will win:
  • There aren’t many tougher players out there than Rich and she could control the glass despite being outsized by Crookston’s bigs.
  • McGee just might be the fastest player in the state and can break down any defense off the dribble.
Why Crookston will win:
  • Size and more size. Cooper doesn’t have anyone to match up with 6-foot-1 sophomore Brooke Heggie and she’ll take advantage of that.
  • Sydney Boike gets hot from outside and forces Cooper to defend the entire floor and not pack the lane against the bigger Pirates.
Our Prediction: Robbinsdale Cooper

Rosters

2012 Girls' Tip Off schedule


Tip Off Classic previews