Avail Academy Valor Prevails

It was a total team effort Tuesday night for the Avail Academy Valor as eight players scored including three with 18 points that helped lead the Fridley based school to a 87-53 rout of the Groves Academy Griffins in St. Louis Park. 

The game opened with back and forth scoring as the game was tied at two and four, with Alfie Galle scoring the Griffins first four points.  Mitchell Pfeiffer would hit a three pointer to help lead a 5-0 run to put the Valor ahead.  Defense would also be a factor as Josiah Schaap block Gabe Gordon's shot.  Schaap would also help Avail Academy take the lead as he hit three shots from Webster Ave.  Pfeiffer would also add to the offensive attack with five straight points.  Even the Valor bench was a big value in the first half as Brayden Ritzema hit a couple of three pointers.  The bright spot for Groves Academy would be Galle, who began the Griffins scoring with six straight points and also scored four in a row as Avail Academy led 45-34 at halftime. 

Pfeiffer would begin the second half scoring with a free throw :11 into the half and Schaap would hit his fifth three pointer to spark the Valor on a 4-0 run.  Joey Ritzema would score four consecutive points and Christian Swenson would also connect to put Avail Academy on an 8-0 run.  There was some good news for the Griffins with the return of Josh Lightowler, who missed the Community of Peace Academy game due to an injury.  Emory Harden and Robert Hall remained sidelined with injuries.  Foul trouble would plague Pfeiffer who picked up his fourth foul with 8:43 to go but Avail Academy would send the game into running time with two runs of four straight points from Micah Clark and five straight from reserve Davis Nelson. 

Pfeiffer, Schaap and Clark led the Valor with 18 points apiece.  Joey Rizema added a dozen.  The Griffins were led by Galle with 29 points.  He was the only Groves Academy player in double figures. 

Avail Academy improved their record to 8-6 and will travel to Twin City Academy/Great River on Thursday, January 30 at 7:30 PM.  Groves Academy fell to 4-12 and will also be in action on the 30th as they head to St. Paul to face Hmong Academy at 6 PM.