Wolves’ Fenske hits 1,000
by Tom Coombe
Dylan Fenske wasn’t leaving any doubt.
Needing 28 points to get 1,000 for his high school boys basketball career, the Ely senior got all 28 in the first half of Tuesday’s 98-31 rout of overmatched Lakeview Christian Academy.
The 6-2 senior seemingly couldn’t miss early on, and his teammates fed him the ball inside- where he ate up the Lions and became another in a growing list of Ely 1,000-point scorers.
It was an improbable journey, but one that Fenske took on - showing improvement in each season in an Ely uniform and becoming one of the section’s top all-around players in his final campaign.
“Dylan has really made himself into a player over the years,” said Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald. “He has very good feet and a nice looking shot which and has become more and more aggressive. At a younger age there is no way we would be talking about him becoming a 1000 point scorer. ”
Yet that’s exactly what Fenske became, working the inside effectively Tuesday as the Wolves improved to 17-4.
Ely scored at will in the first half, racking up 58 points.
Fenske scored inside with under a minute left, getting to the 1,000-point milestone and drawing cheers from the Ely fans.
The game was stopped briefly to allow Fenske to present the game ball to his mother, Tracey, and to get congratulations from teammates and family members.
Fenske finished with a season-high 36 points with a sizzling 18-for-21 shooting performance and added 10 rebounds for good measure as the Wolves, rated fourth in Section 7A, improved to 17-4.
The Wolves have looked to Fenske to take on a bigger role this season and he has delivered, averaging 20.2 points and seven rebounds per night.
“He is our biggest player so as a team we are asking him to take on quite a bit and he has developed into a pretty good rebounder for us.” said McDonald. “I think our success this year can be attributed to the play of Dylan and Eric (Omerza) When they are playing well we are usually ok on the floor.
Omerza added 17 points and nine assists for the Wolves, just missing a double-double.
Junior Emmett Faltesek added 15 points, while junior WIll Davies had six points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals.
Joey Bianco contributed seven points and Brock LaTourell wound up with six for the Wolves, and Lance Puffer led LCA with 14 points.
It was the Wolves’ second lopsided win this season against the Lions.
• The Wolves did everything right down the home stretch while Mesabi East faltered, allowing Ely to escape Aurora Feb. 7 with a 65-56 Arrowhead Conference win.
The game was tied at 56 and Mesabi East had the ball when the Giants turned the ball over with under two minutes left.
Fenske was fouled underneath on the ensuing possession and he hit two free throws to put the Wolves in front to stay.
Ely canned seven more free throws in the last 90 seconds while the Giants could not buy a basket.
Fenske finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Wolves.
Omerza scored 11 points and Faltesek snared 10 rebounds. Bianco passed his way to six assists.
Ely overcame a 29-point night from the Giants’ Hunter Hannuksela.
• The Wolves were at Chisholm Friday and host Mt. Iron-Buhl Tuesday.
The Rangers are led by high-scoring Asher Zubich, who scored 61 points in a win over Mesabi East last month.
