The one thing consistent about Ely’s high school boys basketball this week was inconsistency.
Impressive on Monday in a 59-48 upset victory over previously unbeaten Two Harbors, the Timberwolves stumbled in the second half 24 hours later and fell 80-55 to Cook County.
Both games were part of this week’s Ely Holiday Classic, and the tournament started on a strong note as Drew Johnson’s 32 points and a superb defensive effort by junior Wyatt Tedrick helped spur the win over Two Harbors.
Ely (4-3) was tied at the half with Cook County, but the Vikings made three straight three-pointers to open the second half and never looked back.
C o ok C ou nt y n ever seemed to miss in the second half and made 11 three-pointers in all on the way to the surprisingly lopsided win.
Senior Jack Davies, who is just two points away from the 2,000 career point milestone, finished 21 points against the Vikings and Johnson netted 18.
• The Wolves are entering a busy slate, starting with Saturday’s game at Duluth East, against East Central.
It’s one of five contests in Duluth as part of the Breakdown Classic, an event that brings high-caliber teams in from around the region.
Tip-off is 3:45 p.m.
The Wolves also have home games coming up against Greenway (Tuesday) and Duluth’s Stella Maris Academy (Thursday), followed by a Jan. 10 date at Hill City/Northland.
The Wolves have a busy January with 13 games in a 29-day span.
• Two Harbors came to town Monday with a perfect record, and the Agates’ Jace Gomez powered his team to an early lead.
Gomez hit five threepoint baskets and had 18 of his 24 points in the opening half, but Ely rallied to tie the game at 27 by halftime and momentum shifted in the second half.
Two Harbors and Gomez were shut down, with Tedrick taking on the task of guarding the Agates’ top shooter.
Johnson, meanwhile, picked apart the Two Harbors defense and Ely went to town, Johnson had 22 of his 32 points in the half and went an astounding 15-for-17 from the free throw line.
Tedrick added 12 points and Davies wound up with nine for the winners.
• Three different Cook County players hit threepoint baskets as Tuesday’s game went from a 31-all deadlock to a nine-point lead for the Vikings within two minutes. That trend continued throughout the second half and the Wolves never made a serious run.
