REMER—On paper, at 21-7, Northland-Remer was the stronger team when they faced the Timberwolves here last Thursday night in the opening round of the Section 7A boys basketball tournament. It turns out the Eagles were the stronger team on the court as well, as they pummeled Ely 87-33, ending Ely’s season at 15-12.
“We ran into a buzz saw,” said Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald after the game. “They really shot the ball well against us and nothing went right for us on either end of the floor. It was a disappointing end to a good season.”
Ely fell behind early and was never able to regroup as the Eagles kept the pressure on throughout. “We didn’t defend well, didn’t shoot well, didn’t rebound, and had too many turnovers to make a game of it,” said McDonald.
As he has all season, junior guard Joey Bianco led Ely offensively, with 16 points, a bit below his season average of 22.9 points per game. Senior Harry Simons added six rebounds.
Bianco led the team across the board this season, averaging 8.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists and three steals per game. Simons, who along with Mason Davis and Eddie Prijatel, wrapped up his high school hoops career this past week, finished second on the team in scoring, with an average of 16.6 points a game, despite recovering from a broken hand he suffered early in the season, which benched him for ten games.
Despite last week’s drubbing, McDonald was pleased overall. “I thought we did have a nice season, especially since we were always fighting injuries or Covid-related absences,” he said. “These guys really worked hard throughout the season and it was a good bunch to work with.”
Looking ahead to next year, the team will lose its three seniors, but has a strong crop of juniors who played major roles this year. But McDonald was quick to challenge his team. “If we are going to be any better next year we will have to do some work in the off season,” he said.