AFSA Eagles Ground Groves Academy Griffins

Can do.  can do.  There's a lot Kyle Cantwell can do on the basketball court such as scoring a game high 29 points to lead the Academy for Science and Agriculture Eagles to a 74-52 win over the Groves Academy Griffins in the regular season opener for both teams Tuesday night in St. Louis Park.

Danny Leahy began the scoring for the Eagles 1:06 into the game with a pair of free throws.  Noah Madson would put the Griffins on the newly installed installed scoreboard with a free throw.  Jesse Rodriguez would hit a couple of three pointers for AFSA to even the game at eight as Max Bilcik, the 6'6" freshman would heat up for Groves Academy, scoring 11 straight points.  The Eagles went on a 7-0 run that would end on a Malik Bodden three pointer.  But Cantwell would answer and he would increase the lead to seven.  The Griffins would get their offense going that would also include a basket from Martin Schmitz that would cut the Eagle lead to two.  AFSA increased the lead on Rodriguez's third three pointer.  Madson would score five straight points for Groves Academy and just when the Griffins would come close, the Eagles would forge ahead on another score from Cantwell.  AFSA led 43-32 at halftime.

Madson would score for the Griffins  :41 into the second half.  However, the Eagles would begin to distance themselves from the Griffins as Cantwell went on another five point spree.  Foul trouble would begin to plague Groves Academy in the second half as Madson picked up his fourth foul with 14:42 left in the game and Quinn would also commit his fourth foul :50 later.  Griffin head coach Peter Shutte had to go to his bench and he put in a newcomer who was making his varsity debut, freshman Gabe Gordon.  Gordon made the most of his inaugural playing time by hitting a shot from Minnetonka Blvd.  There was very little Groves Academy could do to catch up as Cantwell would score four straight points, including two off a Griffin turnover.

Rodriguez was the only other Eagle to score in double figures, scoring 17 points.  Bilcik led the Griffins with 19 points and Madson added 11.

AFSA opened the season at 1-0 and returns to action on Thursday, December 8 as they host the Heritage Academy Hawks at 4:30 PM.  Groves Academy falls to 0-1 and will also be in action on the 8th when they head for St. Paul to face the Hmong Academy Warriors at 6 PM.  The Warriors head coach was the former head girls soccer coach at Benilde-St. Margaret's James Cave.