He wears a white number one on his blue jersey and Tuesday night, Malik Bodden lived up to his number as he scored a game high 40 points to lead the Groves Academy Griffins to a 92-75 win over the Hmong Academy Warriors in St. Louis Park.
Bodden got the Griffins of to a solid start, scoring :36 into the game. He would score Groves Academy's first four points and nine of their first 13. The Warriors would get outstanding three point shooting from Joey Zhong and Alex Yang. Alex Yang and Larry Mohamed would trade three pointers but the Griffins showed outstanding speed and defense that would increase their lead. Hmong academy would show some life late in the first half when Zhong hit a pair of three pointers to cut the lead to 10. But the Griffins kept the lead in double figures as they led at halftime 55-43.
Both teams got off to a slow start in the second half as there wasn't any scoring until Bodden hit a three pointer 2:12 into the half. Bodden, who had 22 first half points put on an outstanding offensive display and also positioned himself well without the ball. There was a transition play as he went from defense from offense and got open in the front court to receive a pass and he laid it in. It wasn't just Bodden who got most the offensive glory. Bilcik also contributed on defense, blocking a couple of shots and forcing a Warrior turnover. The bright spot off the bench for Hmong Academy was Kyu Yang who hit a couple of three pointers but they couldn't get closer to Groves Academy. They also had to foul late in the game and the Griffins would clinch the win following a pair of late fouls from Tidley Yang.
Other players in double figures for the Griffins were Mohamed with 17 points and Bilcik with 15. Zhong led the Warriors with 23 points. Elijah Vang added 14. Kyu and Tidley Yang scored 13 points apiece.
Groves Academy improved their record to 2-1 and wrap up their four game home stand on Thursday, December 14 as they host the Ogilvie Lions at 7 PM. Hmong Academy lost their third straight game and fell to 0-3. They won't be back in action until Friday, January 5 when they head up I-35 to Forest Lake to face the North Lakes Academy Huskies at 7 PM.
Eight players for the Warriors had the last name Yang. They were not related.
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