Opponents of the Ely Timberwolves have had a difficult time dealing with Lydia Shultz throughout the 2025-26 high school girls basketball season.
That was quite evident Monday, as Shultz was all over the floor, wreaking havoc with visiting Bigfork and setting a program record with 13 steals in Ely’s lopsided, 89-22 rout of an overmatched Bigfork team.
Shultz not only had 21 points, but broke the single-game steal mark previously held by Sarah Visser and wound up two assists shy of a triple-double.
It was just the latest in a series of strong outings by the junior, who has helped the Wolves climb out of a 1-4 hole and gain seven wins in their last eight outings.
“It wasn’t just Monday it’s every game that she is so impactful,” said Ely Head Coach Tomi Cole. “As far as being smart and quick, she’s had her hands in every play and is such a difference maker in how we are defensively, and how she can get her self going and everyone else gets that energy. Every game she makes such a difference on the defensive end.”
Ely put the struggling Huskies away early and had no trouble - creating about 40 turnovers during the course of the game.
Junior Amelia Penke added 20 points for the Wolves and classmate Ruby Lowe drained five three-point baskets and wound up with 15 points for the evening.
Lillie O’Neill finished with eight points and six rebounds, and Gretta Lowe had an eight-point game as well. Lindi Zemke contributed six points for the Wolves, who shot almost 60 percent from the floor.
The Wolves, who travel to Littlefork- Big Falls Monday, are looking to climb in Section 7A but the schedule is about to get much more difficult.
After home games with Floodwood and Cherry, Ely has consecutive matchups with three of the area’s best teams - including a Feb. 2 clash at top-ranked Mt. Iron-Buhl.
“I think we’re certainly playing better now than how we started the year,” said Cole. “We ran into Duluth Marshall which was unfortunate, but I told them time and again it’s now how we start but how we finish and I think we’re playing our best basketball right now. We need to focus on what we do well every night. I think a lot of our mistakes at the start of the year were on offense and we created a lot of our own turnovers. Now running into MIB and Mesabi East and Chisholm right in a row we need to get everyone involved and play team basketball.”
• Shultz had 24 points and the Wolves knocked down 10 three-pointers in a 78-39 road win at North Woods on Jan. 15. Ely’s defense set the tone, creating many turnovers that the Wolves turned into easy baskets.
The visitors were also hot from the outside, as Ruby Lowe made five of her team’s three-point baskets and contributed 17 points.
Penke had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, O’Neill added another 11 points and sophomore Kaylin Visser came off the bench to score seven points and snare six rebounds.
Gretta Lowe had seven rebounds and six steals.
• The following evening, Shultz poured in 18 points, Ruby Lowe was next with 16 and Penke (12 points, nine rebounds) also had a big contribution in a 70-43 thrashing of International Falls.
Shultz had seven rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Wolves, Penke dished out five assists and Gretta Lowe secured eight rebounds.
