ELY- Ely bounced back from Monday night’s loss against Chisholm to beat Cook County at home, 52-45. Solid defense and hitting key shots down the stretch were crucial in the biggest win of the season for the Timberwolves.
“Everyone did what they do well, contributing to us getting a big win on our home floor,” said Head Coach Max Gantt.
Grace Latourell led the Wolves with 22 points while Sarah Visser added 15. Both hit clutch free throws down the stretch. Ely also limited their turnovers in the second-half, which made the difference. “We are really improving this season. We played nine girls, so this is a true team win,” said Gantt.
The story wasn’t quite as glamorous on Monday night, as the Bluestreaks handed Ely a 56-42 loss in Chisholm.
“We didn’t shoot the ball very well. Chisholm made shots and we didn’t. Simple as that,” said Gantt. “We had open looks, but just couldn’t convert.”
Rachel Coughlin had a great game for the Timberwolves with 18 rebounds, five steals and five points. Sarah Visser also had a stellar evening with 11 points, eight rebounds, four steals, four assists, and four blocks.
“That’s a team we could see in the playoffs. Hopefully, if we see them again, we can shoot it a little better. As for now, we know we can compete with them,” said Gantt.
Ely’s schedule hasn’t been easy, as last Friday they played Cherry, the 12th ranked team in the state and the odds-on favorite for the Section 7A crown. While the Wolves fell 76-49, Gantt said he was pleased with what he saw.
“Our best basketball of the year was the first half. We were only down 42-30. We did a nice job of attacking the basketball, attacking their pressure, and creating offense for one another,” said Gantt.
Grace LaTourell scored 18 points, including four treys. Sarah Visser notched a double-double, with ten points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Madeline Kallberg also contributed with eight points and six boards. The Timberwolves also added a note-worthy nine blocks as a team.
“We left knowing we can compete with the best teams when we play well. It was a confidence boost and shows how good we can be in the future if we keep progressing and working hard,” said Gantt.
The Wolves played their best half of basketball against Cherry just one day after beating the Mariners, 61-14, in Silver Bay.
Sarah Visser had a double-double with 12 points, ten rebounds, and nine steals— just missing a triple-double. Madeline Kalberg, also on fire, had 17 points and ten boards for her own double-double. Grace LaTourell put up 21 points, including 15 from beyond the arc, to lead her team in scoring.
“We started a little slow but our defense got us going with some easy shots. After we caught a rhythm and started knocking down shots, we pulled away handily. Hopefully, we can continue to knock down shots as we keep moving forward,” said Gantt.
The Wolves will host Northeast Range next Monday, March 8, at 7:15 pm.