Three Straight Wins for Groves Academy Griffins

Last season, the Groves Academy Griffins won three games.  Thursday night, they equaled that total as Malik Bodden scored a game high 32 points to lead them to a 73-54 win over the Ogilvie Lions in St. Louis Park.

In two games this week, Bodden has averaged 36 points a game.  In Tuesday's win over Hmong Academy, he scored 40 points.

Logan Peterson gave the Lions the early lead with a three pointer :59 into the game.  Ogilvie, with their tallest starter 6'1" stayed close to the Griffins as the game was tied six times in the first half.  With the score tied at 14, the Lions got hit with a bench technical foul because Antonio Rodriguez was not listed in the scorebook.  Usually, the home book is the official book and it didn't list a number 10 thus resulting in free throws for Bodden.  He would hit three from the line to put Groves Academy ahead.  The Lions would take the lead 23-22 when Colton Tuominen hit a three pointer and it would be the last time the Lions would lead.  Bodden would then go on a roll, scoring nine straight points and Max Bilcik would excel on defense with three first half blocks that helped the Griffins lead at halftime 36-29.

Groves Academy would open the second half with seven straight points that began with Nick Maiers hitting a three pointer :15 into the half. Bilcik would also tally on a two handed jam.  They would go on an 11-2 with Ogilvie getting a basket from Marshall Barker.  But it was Bodden who would help put the game away for the Griffins with nine straight points.  He also made an outstanding move that resulted in one of his scores as he got a pass in the frontcourt, went through two Lion defenders and scored on a one handed layup.  Both teams would send in their reserves with the game decided.

Bilcik was the only other Groves Academy player in double figures, scoring 11 points.  Seth Lindberg led Ogilvie with 17 points.  He was the only Lion in double figures.

The Griffins improved their record to 3-1 and return to action on Monday, December 18 at 6 PM against the North Lakes Academy Huskies in Forest Lake.  The Lions fell to 1-4 and begin a five game homestand on Friday, December 15 against the Isle Huskies at 7:15 PM.