Groves Academy Griffins Close Out Kaleidoscope Comets

After a slow start, the Groves Academy Griffins got their offense "N-Sync" as Larry Mohamed scored 22 points to lead them to a 64-55 win over the Kaleidoscope Charter Comets Thursday night in St. Louis Park.

Based in Otsego, located between Rogers and Elk River, Kaleidoscope is in it's first season of varsity athletics under the auspices of the Minnesota State High School League.

Both teams couldn't find the basket early in the first half.  The Comets erased the zeros on the blue and red scoreboard on Jacob Donnett's basket 1:18 into the game.  Kaleidoscope would go on a 7-0 run until Gabe Gordon hit a three pointer for the Griffins with 13:04 left in the half.  The Groves Academy offense warmed up like a car running in subzero weather as they would go on a 16-0 run and it looked like they would dominate the game.  But there are 36 minutes in a regulation Minnesota varsity basketball game and it would be the Comets turn to trim the Griffins margin as Donnett was on a roll scoring eight straight points.  Groves Academy did not have a lot of height in the lineup due to the absence of senior center Sam Goldstein  but Alfie Galle, who filled in for Goldstein did a fine job in the forward spot, even on defense as he had a nice inside block.  Kaleidoscope would vault into the lead late in the half on a pair of three pointers from Donnett and the comets led at halftime 27-26.

In the second half, Gordon began the scoring with a three pointed that sparked the Griffins on an opening 7-0 run to start the half.  Donnett, who had 22 first half points, was not heard from much in the second half as Groves Academy tightened their defense and started to build a lead.  But the comets held close as there were several ties at 33, 40, and 45.  The fouls would start to pile up for the Comets and the Griffins would be shooting free throws that would widen the lead as Kaledoscope looked to foul to prevent Groves Academy from stalling.  And the Griffins would cash in from the line.  Mohamed would also clinch the game with five straight points that included a three point play.

Kaleidoscope head coach Chris Buerman is in his first season coaching the Comets after leading the Maranatha Christian Academy Mustangs to five consecutive trips to the state tournament, including two Class A second place finishes in 2015 and 2016.  He mentioned about why he left Maranatha to build the Kaledoscope boys program.

" It was an opportunity to start from scratch and go back to boys.  We expect to see growth pretty fast from this group."

Donnett led Kaleidoscope with 29 points.  AJ Kargel was the only other Comet in double figures, scoring 16 points.  The only other Griffin to reach double figures was Gordon with 15 points.

The Griffins evened their record at 2-2 and play their first road game on Friday, December 14 at 5:45 PM as they head to Forest Lake to take on North Lakes Academy.  The Comets fell to 1-4 and return to action on Wednesday, December 19 as they host Lincoln International at 6:30 PM.