One of the state’s most electrifying high school girls basketball players - and her state-ranked team - were just too much for the Ely Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
Chloe Johnson and her Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers came to town, and they quickly lived up to their billing.
With the six-foot Johnson leading the way, the Hilltoppers scored 25 points in the first five minutes, and Johnson had 22 of her team’s 59 first-half points in what turned out to be an 84-37 romp over the Timberwolves.
Just a sophomore, Johnson has already topped the 2,000-point mark for her career and has attracted national attention as one of the best players in her class.
But she’s just part of a Duluth Marshall juggernaut - on a team that’s ranked fourth in the state in Class AA.
Ely, a 5-5 team in Class A, was simply no match and the hosts were put away early.
The Wolves were held to 20 first-half points and shot 23 percent from the floor for the night.
Junior Ruby Lowe led the Wolves with 14 points and hit four of her team’s six three-point baskets, but Ely was largely cold for the night.
Lydia Shultz, another junior, added six points for the Wolves while Lillie O’Neill and Gretta Lowe finished with five points each.
Amelia Penke added four points with five rebounds and Kaylin Visser snared seven rebounds for the Wolves.
For Duluth Marshall, Johnson topped the chart with 31 points, Anna Saari contributed 17 and teammates Cambrie Berger and Melanie Carlson were next with nine points each.
• On Saturday, Ely picked up its fourth straight win, rallying past Hill City-Northland 61-59, with O’Neill’s three-point basket with seven seconds left proving to be the game-winner.
The Wolves trailed 59-58, but O’Neill stepped up with her third three-point basket of the game.
Ely led 36-27 at the half, but HCN controlled much of the second stanza and took a lead until the Wolves countered with the game-winning shot.
The three-pointers were falling for the Wolves, with Ruby Lowe sinking six on the way to a team-high 18 points for the afternoon.
Shultz scored 15 points for the Wolves and O’Neill was next with 14, while Penke had 10 points and 14 rebounds to secure the double- double.
In addition to her double- digit scoring output, Shultz also had eight rebounds, five steals and three assists.
• The Wolves were at International Falls Friday and return to the court Monday with a Winter Frolic Week home matchup against Bigfork.
G ame time is 5:45 p.m. and the contest is part of a girls and boys basketball doubleheader, with the boys taking on North Woods.
