Groves Academy Griffins End Four Game Losing Streak

Matthew Zahn is 1-0 as a head coach. 

Zahn, taking over the coaching reins due to head coach Peter Shutte recovering from surgery on a broken ankle got 23 points apiece from Josh Lightowler and Alfie Galle that led the Groves Academy Griffins to an 80-61 win over the Academy for Science and Agriculture Eagles Thursday night in St. Louis Park. 

Nate Lundy opened the first half scoring for the Eagles :16 into the game and Galle struck first for the Griffins to tie the score.  Galle would score eight straight points for Groves Academy after Danny Berthoud scored to put them ahead.  Most of the first half scoring came from inside the three point line as there were only two shots from Minnetonka Blvd. that went threw the nylon net.  Both came from Lundy and Mitchell Carey for AFSA.  the lead would go back and forth like a pendulum on a grandfather clock until the Griffins would forge ahead late in the first half to take a 31-26 halftime lead. 

Emory Harden, who returned to the Groves Academy lineup after being sidelined with an injury would score the Griffins first three second half points.  Groves Academy would forge further ahead as they finally started to connect on three pointers.  Berthoud and Lightowler would hit threes to spark a 10-0 run. Gabe Gordon would also hit a three pointer.  The closest the Eagles would come to the Griffins was 11 points as Jake Babu worked some Eagle magic with a three pointer.  Babu and Gordon would also trade three pointers but the AFSA magic lost its glow when Lundy fouled with 8:20 left in the game.  The one offensive bright spot for the Eagles was Jake Colstock who scored four straight points but it wouldn't be enough to catch the Griffins. 

The only other Groves Academy player in double figures was Harden, who scored 11 points.  Lundy led AFSA with 17 points.  Colquitt added 12 and Babu tallied 12. 

The Griffins ended their four game losing streak and improved their record to 5-14.  They will return to action on Tuesday, February 11 against the Twin City Academy/Great River Tigers at 6 PM.  AFSA fell to 1-16 and will also be back in action on the 11th as they host Liberty Classical Academy at 6:30 PM.