Abdi's Gamewinner Leads Learning for Leadership Mustangs

While many Minnesota high schools had the night off due to precinct caucuses, there was plenty of basketball action in St. Louis Park as Kafi Abdi hit a game winning shot with :02.2 to play to lead the Learning for Leadership Mustangs to a 69-68 win over the Groves Academy Griffins Tuesday night.

Ahmed Nur opened the scoring for the Mustangs :33 into the game.  Malik Bodden evened the score for the Griffins as they went on an 8-0 run that included four straight points from Max Bilcik.  Nur would end the run for Learning for Leadership as he scored four points in a row.  Groves Academy would surge ahead as they would go on a late 7-0 run.   Nur would score six straight points to bring the Mustangs close as the Griffins led 33-27 at halftime.

In the second half, Abdirizek Ahmed started the scoring with a pair of free throws :39 into the half.  The Griffins would go on a 6-0 run but the big story of the second half would be Abdi.  He would sink shot after shot from Minnetonka Blvd. as he would hit six three pointers to bring Learning for Leadership back into the game.  The tide would turn for the Mustangs when Groves Academy's Nick Maiers was assessed a technical foul that sent Ahmed to the free throw line for two shots.  He would make boh free throws to cut the lead to one.  The Griffins called time out with :11.6 remaining as the Mustangs would go for the last shot.  They would get the win on Abdi's inside shot with :02.2 left in the game.  Groves Academy had a chance to win the ballgame but they turned the ball over and that's how the game ended.

Abdi would lead Learning for Leadership with 31 points, 29 in the second half.  Other Mustangs in double figures were Ahmed with 18 and Nur with 10.  Bilcik led Groves Academy with 22 points.  Bodden added 21 and Mohamed finished with 14.

The Mustangs improved their record to 115 and will host the Liberty Classical Academy Lions on Friday, Feburary 9 at 6 PM.  The Griffins fell to 7-10 and host the Nova Classical Academy Knights on Thursday, January 8 at 7 PM.