Boys’ basketball: Eric Cooper Jr. is cleared to play Thursday

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Standout junior guard Eric Cooper Jr. of La Verne Lutheran won’t need surgery for his broken index finger and will be ready to play on Thursday against Gardena Serra in the Southern Section Division 4AA championship game at the Anaheim Convention Center, his father, Eric Cooper, said.

A specialist who saw a similar injury that Kobe Bryant suffered gave clearance on Monday.

Cooper is still expected to play with the broken finger taped in the 4:45 p.m. final.

-- Eric Sondheimer