Whatever Cooperstown head coach Mike Cring said at halftime of Monday's regular season finale with Morrisivlle it was very effective, as his team broke open a 30-30 halftime game to win easily, 77-54.

The win left the Redskins with a 14-6 record, and winners of 10 of their final 11 games. After a bye in the first round, Cooperstown will begin play in the Section Three Class C tournament next Tuesday. As of press time, the Redskins opponent was unknown, though Cring was hoping for a fourth seed and a home game.

It looked for much of the first half of Monday's game that Cooperstown would blow any chance of finishing the season on a high note. Center Billy Hribar scored all eight of his team's first quarter points as the Redskins trailed 11-8 after the first quarter. In fact, Hribar scored 15 of the team's first 17 points on the way to a game-high 21.

But it was the bench players who kept the game close in the first half. Sean Hazzard converted a three-point play to pull Cooperstown within 28-26 late in the first half, and Alex Green scored three first half points off the bench as well. Paul Leonard added seven points and 10 rebounds in one of his best efforts of the season.

"The guys off the bench played great," Cring said. "I thought it was a miracle the game was tied at halftime, and that was a credit to the guys off the bench."

The Redskins didn't need a miracle in the second half, though, as they exploded out of the lockerroom with a 16-2 run highlighted by 11 points from freshman Shane Connolly, who hit two three-point shots during the run. Cooperstown scored 28 third quarter points to break the game open.

Connolly finished with 14 points, while sophomore Jeremy Holmes added 12. Cring said junior varsity players Will Dennis, Andy Dickan and Nick Laskovski will be added to the varsity roster for the postseason.

...Monday's game was also Senior Night, with lone senior basketball player Blair Budine honored before the game. Also honored were senior varsity cheerleaders Megan Green, Courtney Downey, Lisa Burgins and Julie Pernat...A moment of silence was observed before the game for longtime CCS basketball supporter Angleo Pugliese, who died Saturday.