by Tom Coombe
The Ely Timberwolves’ Dec. 11 matchup with Floodwood was never in doubt, but it wasn’t just a typical win for the high school boys basketball team.
Not only did the Wolves hit the century mark in a 100-40 throttling of the overmatched Polar Bears, but the victory was the 600th in the legendary career of Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald.
McDonald, who has guided the Wolves since 1990 and has only had three losing seasons since 1994, not only picked up win 600, but is now 14th all time among boys basketball head coaches in total wins.
That list is headed by another McDonald, Tom’s late father Bob, who won more than 1,000 games in a career that lasted several decades in Chisholm.
McDonald took it all in stride, accepting a game ball from win number 600, presented prior to Friday’s home matchup: a 93-23 win over Mesabi East.
For McDonald, the first 37 wins came during the opening phase of his teaching and coaching career, but each win since has been in Ely.
“It’s a long time coaching, 39 years worth,” he said Wednesday night. “But just having kids who work real hard for me and buy in to what we’re doing. They always work so hard. Just the way we play, diving on the floor and going after loose balls, that’s what means so much.”
After three relatively easy and lopsided wins, the Wolves were in for a test Monday against defending section champion Cherry, which is rated second among Minnesota’s Class A teams.
Although the Wolves fell 72-54, it was a competitive contest, one perhaps even closer than the final score indicated.
Ely was within a point in the first half when the Tigers (4-0) took charge with a 15-0 run.
“We had a bad stretch at the end of the first half when they went 15-0 on us,” said McDonald. “Still we came back and were down nine with 5:30 to go and then they made a run and finished it off. I thought we really struggled offensively against their defense, which is a very physical man-to-man, but I was happy to be in the area where we were competing with them.”
Cherry stalwarts Noah (29 points) and Isaiah (21) Asuma led the way for the Tigers, combining for the bulk of their offense.
Ely had three players with double figures as Drew Johnson (16 points), Wyatt Tedrick (14) and Jack Davies (12) topped the scoring chart. Johnson also dished out five assists.
• The Wolves put pressure on early in the game against Mesabi East, putting the Giants away early and running out to a 53-10 lead by halftime.
Much of the second half was played in running time and Ely cleared the bench.
Davies knocked down five of the Wolves’ 11 three-point baskets and outscored the visitors by himself with 28 points to go with seven steals and five assists.
Johnson was an efficient eight-for-12 from the field on the way to a 23-point, 10-rebound evening. He also had six assists and six steals.
Tedrick scored 12 points, junior Leo McKrahl secured 10 rebounds and sophomore Grant Chittum finished with six assists and five points.
• Johnson scored a career-high 33 points as the Wolves dominated against Floodwood. The senior was 11-for-13 from the floor and the team shot over 60 percent for the night, including a sizzling 34-for-45 (75.6 percent) from two-point range.
Tedrick added 21 points and five steals for the Wolves and Davies (14 points) also hit double figures along five steals, five assists and four rebounds.
Senior Tyler Fritz added eight points, as did Chittum.
• The Wolves, who met North Woods Thursday after deadline, are in the midst of an impressive start.
“The schedule hasn’t been tough until the Cherry game and we beat up on the first three,” said McDonald. “So I was worried about the Cherry game because of that, but I like the way we competed. I think we proved we can play with everybody. I don’t know if we can beat everybody but we should be in the ballpark with everybody.”
