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Blake rides dominant first half to victory over St. Paul Academy

By Dominic Davis, SportsEngine, 02/07/20, 3:00PM CST

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The Bears built a 41-15 lead going into halftime behind shooting from Jasper Liu, who scored a game-high 26 points.

Blake's Jasper Liu with a layup on a fast break against St. Paul Academy Friday night. Liu finished with a game-high 26 points in the Bears' victory. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

Blake's Jasper Liu with a layup on a fast break against St. Paul Academy Friday night. Liu finished with a game-high 26 points in the Bears' victory. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

This season has already been full of special moments and milestones for the Blake boys’ basketball team. In the midst of handling St. Paul Academy (12-6, 4-4) 75-58 on Friday night, Robert Grace IV reached 1,000 career points as a Bear. He received a special ball after the game to commemorate the night. Grace IV and his teammates were happy about the junior’s achievement and yet it wasn’t the most important thing for the players tonight.

“I know it’s a huge milestone but as a team it means nothing,” Grace IV said. “We still have a lot to do... we still have all next year to play for. It feels good for me, but it’s something small for the team.”

The Bears’ Gabe Ganz said he was very proud of Grace IV because they have been playing on the same teams since they were in fourth or fifth grade.

Gabe Ganz scored his 1,000th point earlier in the season against Benilde-St. Margaret’s — on Jan. 3. And Jasper Liu — who scored a game-high 26 points in tonight’s win — is nearing that mark as well.

Blake junior Robert Grace IV (3) with a look at the basket over St Paul Academy's Ethan Richman on Feb 7. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

Blake junior Robert Grace IV (3) with a look at the basket over St Paul Academy's Ethan Richman on Feb 7. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

First Report

Blake fired 41 points in the first half in its 75-58 victory over St. Paul Academy on Friday night at St. Paul Academy and Summit School.

The Bears (15-4, 8-1) took command of the game and never turned back. Blake’s defense held St. Paul Academy to just 15 points in the first half. The Spartans (12-6, 4-4) couldn’t find a rhythm offensively, turning the ball over and allowing Blake to get easy points going the other way. It built a 41-15 lead going into halftime behind shooting from Jasper Liu, who scored a game high 26 points, and Gabe Ganz scoring 16 in the contest.

St. Paul Academy had a strong second half scoring the ball behind an 18-point outing from Adam Holod, but Blake didn’t let up and maintained its lead throughout the game.

St. Paul Academy's Eric Bottern (53) with a rebound Friday against visiting Blake. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

St. Paul Academy's Eric Bottern (53) with a rebound Friday against visiting Blake. Photo by Korey McDermott, SportsEngine

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