First Win for Mounds Park Academy Panthers

To quote the rock group Steely Dan, "Go back Jack and do it again."  That's what Jack Paulson did Tuesday night as he scored 23 points to lead the Mounds Park Academy Panthers to a 72-44 rout of the Groves Academy Griffins in St. Louis Park.

It was the first win of the season for the St. Paul based school that snapped a five game losing streak.

The Griffins got off to a solid start in the first half as center Sam Goldstein scored six straight points.  He would score eight of Groves Academy's first 10 points with the other two coming from Larry Mohamed.  But there would be no first half shut out as Paulson put the Panthers on the board 3:22 into the game.  MPA would then go on an 8-0 run that was ended by Goldstein, who showed some outstanding inside play in the early going.  The Panthers offense would heat up like a hot air balloon as Ben Nippolt would put MPA ahead with a pair of three pointers and a three point play,  A basket from TaeVion Wilkins would spark another 8-0 Panther run.  The Griffins were hit with foul trouble when Nick Maiers picked up his third personal with 5:44 left in the half.  Maiers changed his uniform number from 52 to 51 because he needed a bigger sized jersey.  MPA would forge further ahead on Nippolt's third three pointer and Fruchterman and Paulson would also tally as the Panthers led at halftime 36-21.

It would take a while for the second half scoring to begin as Gabe Gordon would open the scoring for the Griffins 1:08 into the half.  But it was Paulson who would dominate the second half as he would help MPA put the Griffins away with jumpers and outstanding inside shooting.  Nippolt would hit his fourth three pointer of the game and the Panther bench also contributed, including a three pointer from Ayoub Mahamoud.  Groves Academy lost the bulk of their offense late in the game when Mohamed picked up his fifth foul.

Other players in double figures for the Panthers were Nipport with 19 points and Parker law with 10.  The Griffins were led by Goldstein with 21 points and Mohamed added 15.

MPA improved to 1-5 and will host their holiday tournament December 27 & 28.  Groves Academy fell to 2-4 and will play their final game before the holiday break on Thursday, December 20 as they head back to Forest Lake to take on Lakes International Language Academy at 6 PM.