Scott scores 2,000th point

Since he started playing basketball in elementary school, Tim Scott has stepped up to the free throw line hundreds of times.But the free throw the Ely senior made late in the first half of a Feb. 12 game at Carlton was more than just a little bit different.It gave the all-time leading scorer in Timberwolves basketball history 2,000 points for his career, and put him closer to exclusive company among Minnesota prep players.He needed just one rebound in Friday night’s game with Chisholm to become one of only 10 people in state history to get 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for his career.Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald was among many who saluted the achievements of the 6-4 Scott last week, and said the milestone may ease some of the pressure on the senior as the Wolves head toward postseason play.“I think a weight has been lifted now, and he can focus just on playing basketball,” said McDonald, who amassed more than 2,000 points himself while playing at Chisholm in the early-1980s.Scott’s milestone accomplishment was spoiled somewhat by Carlton, who rallied from nine points down - after Scott fouled out - and pulled out a 54-51 nonconference win.The loss gave Ely, 11-9, a weekend split after a 69-52 home win over Mesabi East the night before.Against Carlton, Scott scored 23 of his 30 points in the first half and Ely led by nine points with 2:09 to go. That’s when Scott picked up his fifth foul and left the ballgame, and that’s when Carlton roared back.“In the last two minutes it seemed like we had the ball for maybe 15 seconds,” said McDonald. “We either turned it over or they fouled us and we missed at the line.”The Wolves missed 12 free throws in the final quarter, several in the last two minutes, and three Ely turnovers were created by the Carlton full-court press.Garrett Davis scored 18 points and fueled a Bulldogs (9-13) comeback.Eric McDonald had 16 points and was the only other Ely player to reach double figures.Wolves 69, Mesabi East 52Ely’s full-court pressure rattled the Giants in the second half and turned the game around.The Giants got balanced scoring in the first half and built a 30-27 advantage through two quarters.Everything changed in the third, as the Ely press forced nine turnovers in the quarter and the Wolves went on a 23-9 run.It was fueled by the outside shooting of Eric McDonald, who buried four long-distance bombs and had a game-high 30 points.Scott had 18 of his 27 points in the second half, while Nick Furnstahl’s steady work on defense helped contain Giants star Eric Darbo, who was held to 10 points, 10 below his season average.Senior Mike Popesh had a strong all-around game for the Wolves, finishing with seven points.“It was one of our better games of the year and a win against a good opponent,” said Tom McDonald. “We wanted to pick things up a bit with our press and I think we surprised them a little bit as they threw the ball away.”Kai Lemoine scored 11 points, while teammates Darbo and Justin Peyla wound up with 10 for the Giants (9-11).• The Wolves were at Littlefork-Big Falls Saturday and they finish the regular season at home Friday against Duluth Marshall, which is expected to be one of the top teams in the Section 7AA tournament.Playoff action begins March 3 at Duluth and the Wolves appear to be locked into the seventh seed in the eight-team east subsection. Potential playoff foes include Duluth Marshall, Virginia or Moose Lake-Willow River.