Ely’s high school boys basketball team emerged from an NBA-like stretch of its schedule with three wins in four games over a span of six days.
The Timberwolves had to grind a couple of those wins out, edging past North Woods 70-62 on Monday and then going on the road and holding off McGregor 60-57 the following night.
The only loss in that stretch came Jan. 15, when the Wolves fell 65-43 at Mt. Iron-Buhl.
Ely won three straight after that, setting a school record with 20 threepoint baskets in Saturday’s 95-53 rout of Duluth Marshall.
The Wolves followed up with victories over North Woods and McGregor, raising their record to an impressive 114, and a current number-seven ranking among 18 teams in a deep Section 7A.
“It was a tough stretch for us but we weathered the storm and still played well after the MIB game,” said Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald. “We are competing well and finding ways to win even if we aren’t playing well which is a good sign. We have some tough opponents coming up in the next month so hopefully we can keep competing with everyone on our schedule.”
Tuesday, the Wolves built a lead as large as 16 points but McDonald said “we proceeded to let them back in it. We missed three front ends of one-andones in that time span and also a few turnovers.”
The Mercuries pulled to within one point late in the contest but two key free throws from senior Drew Johnson, who scored 24 points, provided some key insurance.
McGregor missed a three-pointer that would have tied it up at the horn, and the Wolves escaped.
Senior Jack Davies added 19 points for the Wolves.
Monday, the Wolves shook off a slow start and led 31-30 at halftime, but a pesky North Woods team wouldn’t go away quietly.
The Grizzlies fell behind by 13 points midway through the stanza but put together a late charge.
Ely needed some free throws from Johnson to help secure the victory.
Johnson led the way with 28 points and six assists.
Davies was next with 15 points and junior Wyatt Tedrick contributed 11.
On the boards, Leo McKrahl secured nine rebounds and Arturo Cameron had eight.
• Ely caught fire in Saturday’s home game, sizzling from the outside while going 20-for-32 from three-point range and setting a new team record.
Davies had 10 long-range bombs and poured in 35 points for the afternoon, while Johnson scored 24 and Tedrick dished out eight assists.
“It’s the best we have shot all year and all of the guys were playing well and shooting well,” said McDonald.
• MIB put the clamps on the visiting Wolves last week, holding Ely to just 43 points, the Wolves’ second-lowest total this season.
“We just couldn’t handle their physical play and we turned the ball over 25 times,” said McDonald.
Davies scored 15 points for the Wolves, Johnson finished with 10 and Tedrick finished with seven rebounds.
• The Wolves have two home games ahead this week, including a Friday night clash with Cromwell (6 p.m.) that’s part of a boys and girls doubleheader, with the Ely girls taking on Cherry at 7:30 p.m.
