By this time in March, seventh-seeded high school girls’ basketball teams have almost always packed up their equipment for the season and have been idle for a few days, if not a week or more.
But not the Ely Timberwolves.
Thursday night, the Wolves play for a section championship for the first time in program history while in the midst of a magnificent playoff run that included a pair of stunning upsets.
Ely stunned third-seeded Chisholm Tuesday in Hermantown, prevailing 47-41 in the Section 7A semifinals.
Three days earlier, the Wolves (16-9) hung on to beat Deer River 51-50 in a quarterfinal thriller at Esko.
The wins sent them into the 7A finals Thursday night at 6 p.m. in Hermantown, where there was one more giant left to topple: the state’s top-ranked Mt. Iron-Buhl Rangers.
“We’ve been saying all along, why not us?” said Ely Head Coach Tomi Cole in the moments after Tuesday’s win. “I think they were determined and had the right mindset tonight.”
The Wolves were placed in the middle of the pack after an up-and-down regular season but they’ll take a six-game winning streak into the finals - while making some history in the process.
The semifinal win thrilled a small but vocal Ely gathering, made up predominantly of parents and students in Hermantown. Many stuck around after the final buzzer and after the Wolves emerged from the locker room for hugs and an impromptu celebration.
“I did the easy part,” said Cole. “They come to practice and games every day and work incredibly hard. It’s so rewarding to see them at this stage and as an underdog too, to pull out two really big wins and get to the section finals.”
Chisholm, which was led by Cole’s uncle, Joel McDonald had scored two decisive wins over the Wolves during the regular season but the third contest quickly took on a different tone.
Ely was patient, even deliberate, in the first half, and a couple of three-point baskets by Ruby Lowe helped the Wolves go on a run toward the latter part of the half.
After trailing 11-10, the Wolves led by as many as nine points and junior Amelia Penke had 10 first-half points.
The Bluestreaks cut into the gap and trailed 26-21 at the half, but the Wolves were smelling an upset.
“When we’re up it’s always about being patient and playing the game we are comfortable playing,” said Cole. “Chisholm is incredibly skilled. They play fast. They play aggressive. And I didn’t want to get caught up in that. Everything was in our favor and we did just what we needed to do.”
Chisholm struggled from the outside for much of the game against Ely’s zone defense, and Lowe hit a couple of more long-range bombs as the Wolves built their lead to 36-23 with 12 minutes to go.
But the Bluestreaks were not finished.
In a matter of minutes, the lead was down to two points at 38-36, with Chisholm hitting back-to-back three-point bombs and the Wolves unraveling a bit against the aggressive Chisholm defense.
Penke, who finished with 13 points, hit a crucial three-pointer to help settle the Wolves but Chisholm freshman Aurvyana Worlie connected with a three-point bomb of her own and Ely clung to a 41-40 edge with 4:15 left.
Worlie’s triple would prove to be Chisholm’s last field goal and the Bluestreaks misfired on a layup that would have given them the lead and several three-point attempts in the last four minutes.
Ely, meanwhile, clinched it at the line as junior Lydia Shultz canned six straight free throws down the stretch and finished 10-for-10 at the line for the game.
“Lydia was incredible going 10-for-10 at the free throw line with the game on the line,” said Cole. “Those were pressure free throws and she stepped up. She’s great leader and it was nice to see that shine.”
Leading 43-41, the Wolves turned the ball over with 57 seconds left, but a Chisholm three-point shot was deflected and Ely got the ball back.
Shultz made two free throws and then two more after another Chisholm miss and the Wolves would not be denied.
For the game, Shultz led with 15 points, five steals and four assists, while Penke had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Lowe sank four pivotal three-pointers on the way to a 12-point night, and freshman Kaija Shultz was an unsung hero, snaring 10 rebounds to go with her four points.
Senior Zoe MacKenzie added three points for the winners.
Chishom, which finished 24-5, got 17 points from Avaya Dobis-Fontaine.
The Ely win sets up a rematch with MIB, which downed the Wolves 78-35 and has dominated 7A opposition for more than a decade.
The winner advances to the state tournament next week in Minneapolis.
“We’ve already achieved some goals in getting to the finals,” said Cole. “Mt. Iron is an incredible team, number one in the state so we have our hands full and we know that. Being the underdog isn’t easy. We just have to show up and compete.”
• The Wolves hit their first seven shots from the floor and did a defensive number on Deer River star Tatum Morrison while knocking off the 23-win Warriors 51-50 on Saturday in Esko.
Ely led by eight points at the half and was up 51-39 with seven minutes left.
The Wolves wouldn’t score again and hung on for dear life at the end.
A Warrior steal with a second left gave Morrison one last shot to win it, but it was off and Ely escaped.
Penke led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Lydia Shultz finished with 15 points, four steal and four assists.
Gretta Lowe added 10 more points for the Wolves, who were a proficient eight-for-15 from three-point distance.
MacKenzie, Ruby Lowe and Lillie O’Neill all hit three-point baskets for the Wolves, who overcame 26 turnovers to get the win.
