Before Robbinsdale Cooper took the court against Wayzata in the Class 4A, Section 6 semifinals on Saturday at Osseo High School, Hawks first-year coach Broderick Powell went through the requisite pregame speech.

The message he delivered, however, didn't include the standard review of the game plan. Instead, Powell focused on how his team deserved to be in the semifinals.

"We didn't make it this far to not give 110 percent," Powell said. 

Cooper, the No. 3 seed, came out with a purpose on Saturday and never trailed the second-seeded Trojans in a 70-67 victory that sends the Hawks to the section championship.

"We knew if we didn't play our best, they would beat us," Cooper senior guard Melvin Newbern said. "We stepped up to their level and we won."

Newbern led the Hawks with 28 points and finished 12-for-15 from the free-throw line. Newbern said the game plan was to make stop after stop on defense, but the victory was also fueled by the simple motivation to win.

"We always talk about how bad do you want to win and how bad do you want to show people that you should be in this game," Powell said. "The team had the will to win tonight."

Advancing to the section final is a turnaround for a Cooper program that finished last year with a 7-18 regular season record and lost to Champlin Park 105-48 in the first round of the Class 4A, Section 5 playoffs.

This year, the Hawks went 16-7 in the regular season and 9-5 in the Metro West Conference, where they finished third in the standings.

Newbern credits Powell for helping Cooper return to it's winning ways.

"(Powell) holds us to higher standards, and he pushes us to be better people on and off the court," Newbern said. 

Powell was known for his success in three years as head coach at Park Center, guiding the Pirates to a second-place finished in the 2013 Class 4A state tournament.

So far, Powell is pleased with how his team has responded.

"I have a lot of young guys and they have stuck in there," Powell said. "They continue to listen and get better."

For Newbern, it's a relief to know the basketball team is headed in the right direction.

"I know this program is going to be in good hands when I leave," Newbern said. 

But before finishing his senior season, Newbern and the Hawks have a date with top-seeded Hopkins in the Section 6 final on March 2.

"We played them once this season, and it didn't go well," Newbern said. "We're going back to the drawing board, and we'll figure it out."

Senior Melvin Newbern had 28 points as No. 3 seed Robbinsdale Cooper upset No. 2 seed Wayzata 70-67 in the Class 4A, Section 6 semifinals at Osseo High School on Saturday night.

The Hawks (18-7) never trailed in the game and rattled the Trojans’ defense early, scoring the game’s first seven points before Wayzata senior guard Jack Sowada sank a three-pointer to end the run. 

Robbinsdale Cooper found itself in foul trouble, but persevered behind the play of Newbern, who had several key rebounds to help the Hawks to stay ahead and take a 29-25 lead into halftime. 

Newbern and Damien Gordon combined to power Robbinsdale Cooper in the second half. Gordon scored 14 of his 21 points after halftime while Newbern made a couple key baskets in the final minutes to seal victory. Newbern also went 12-for-15 from the free-throw line in the game.

Senior Johnny Beeninga dominated Wayzata’s fast-paced offense with his quick footwork and big shots, finishing with a team-high 18 points. Sowada had nine points for the Trojans (21-7), ranked No. 10 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News.

Robbinsdale Cooper faces No. 1-seeded Hopkins in the section championship at 7 p.m. on March 2 at Osseo High School.

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