Boys’ basketball: Eric Cooper Jr. wants to play on Tuesday

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There’s no doubt that standout junior guard Eric Cooper Jr. of La Verne Lutheran wants to play on Tuesday against Oaks Christian in a Southern Section Division 4AA quarterfinal playoff game despite having a broken index finger.

‘I’m going to try to do a Kobe,’ he said, referring to Kobe Bryant, who played in 2009 with a broken finger.

But it’s going to be up to his father and coach, Eric Cooper, to decide whether to let his son play after consulting with doctors.

Surgery will be needed, and the question is whether it can be delayed for three weeks or must be done now to prevent long-term damage.

And if Cooper does play, will he be able to handle the pain and adjust his shot, because the injury is on his right hand.

Stay tuned.

-- Eric Sondheimer