Holiday tourney in 13th year

As usual, Ely’s high school basketball teams won’t have to go far to get some games during the holiday break.Only a drive to the high school gymnasium is in order for members of both the Timberwolves’ boys and girls squads, who host opponents from around the area in the 13th Annual Ely Holiday Tournament.The three-day, 12-game event tips off at 1 p.m. Wednesday and by the time it ends early Friday evening, eight teams - four boys and four girls - will have played three games each.For the last decade-plus, the tournament has been a staple on the Ely schedule.The field has changed steadily over the years, and this year’s event includes a mix of returning and new squads. Silver Bay enters the girls tournament this year and joins holdovers Eveleth-Gilbert and Cromwell along with the host Timberwolves.On the boys’ side, Two Harbors and Cromwell are both back while Silver Bay replaces Mesabi Academy.Both Ely squads are looking to gain momentum as they head toward the meat of their respective schedules.The Ely boys are 2-2, with victories over Orr and Tower-Soudan sandwiched around a pair of defeats.Two Harbors is the only Class AA team in the boys tournament, but the Agates are struggling thus far, losing four straight contests by an average of 40 points before dropping a one-point decision to Cook County.Ely’s most difficult test may come in the middle game against Cromwell, which won three of its first four contest.Silver Bay split its first four games, including a lopsided win over North Shore rival and fellow tournament entrant Two Harbors. Eveleth-Gilbert may be the prohibitive favorite in the girls tournament. The AA Golden Bears face three Class A foes and are off to a 4-0 start.Cromwell reached the Section 7A finals last season and returns one of the area’s top players in Kylee Smith, but the Cardinals have been hurt by injuries and go into the tournament at 1-5.Silver Bay is 1-5 as well, with its lone victory coming against Babbitt-Embarrass.The host Timberwolves were 2-1 going into a Thursday night home game against unbeaten Cotton.Sophomore Tomi McDonald has provided the bulk of the offense thus far for the Wolves, including a 27-point outburst in Tuesday’s win over Virginia.Admission to tournament games is $5 for adults, $3 for students, for each two-game session.