Groves Academy Griffins Rout MN State Academy for Deaf Trojans

To paraphrase a line from a Mamas and the Papas song, Monday was so good to the Groves Academy Griffins as Alfie Galle scored 16 points to lead them to a 72-34 drubbing of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Trojans in St. Louis Park. 

The Griffins broke out of the starting gate by scoring the game's first 13 points, starting with a three pointer from Gabe Gordon :18 into the game.  The Trojans, who made the trip up I-35 from Faribault, were on a 3:48 scoring drought that ended on a free throw from Brenden Dow.  Dow, a sophomore on a team without any seniors was the primary source of the MSAD offense.  The only other player to tally for the Trojans was was Karsen Schroeder.  Groves Academy had a distinctive height advantage against MSAD, whose tallest players Christopher Ninneman and Shawn Ketchum stood six feet. and they used their athleticism and their ability to box out on the offensive boards to lead 35-6.  Not all of the offense was inside the lane.  They would get two more three pointers from Gordon and Josh Lightowler would hit from Lake St.  The Griffins also got bench scoring from Jake Anderson to spark a 5-0 run and lead 46-16. 

The Trojans would come to life in the second half as they started on a 4-0 run with baskets from Schroeder and Dow.  But the Griffins would forge even further ahead with an 8-0 that also included four straight points from Lightowler.  MSAD would be assessed a technical foul due to an incorrect number entered in the scorebook.  It would also send Orlando Bush to the free throw line for two shots and he made one of two from the line.  Anderson would put the Griffins on a 4-0 run that sent the game into running time. 

Dow would lead the Trojans with a game high 28 points.  Nine players would score for the Griffins.  In addition to Galle, three other players would score in double figures.  Lightowler scored 15 and Gordon and Daniel Schoenfelder added 11 points apiece. 

Groves Academy senior Robert Hall turned 18 on Monday. 

The Griffins improved their record to 2-8 and host Hmong Academy College Prep on Tuesday, January 14 at 6 PM.  The Trojans fell to 0-5 and host Chesterton Academy on Thursday, January 16 at 6:30 PM.