FIELD TWP — If there’s one word to describe the Ely girls’ performance in their 78-39 takedown of North Woods last Thursday, it would be relentless.
If the Wolves let their foot off the gas, it was only to catch their breaths for a moment before throttling up their swarming defense and dominating offense again to continue the mismatch in a game that was effectively out of reach for North Woods by halftime.
North Woods made just eight two-pointers and five treys as Ely held the Grizzlies to 24.5 percent shooting. While the Wolves had just four fewer turnovers than the Grizzlies’ 24, they did a far better job of capitalizing on their opponent’s miscues, outscoring North Woods in that category 32-10.
With 38 points in the paint, most of those on layups, and going ten-of-23 from beyond the arc, Ely’s effective field goal percentage was a sizzling 61 percent, a mark any team would have trouble overcoming. The Wolves also owned the boards, 42-29.The Wolves placed eight players in the scoring column with four in double digits. Lydia Shultz was nine-of-13 from the field and four-of-five at the free throw line for 24 points, followed by Ruby Lowe with 17, Amelia Penke with 16, and Lillie O’Neill with 11.
Brynn Chosa topped North Woods in scoring with ten, while Tatum Barto added eight.
North Woods Head Coach Liz Cheney was clearly disappointed with how her team played.
“I think we lost to ourselves more than we did to Ely,” Cheney said. “We were flat footed, we were tired, we made bad passes, lots of turnovers, missed shots, and no offensive rebounding. We beat ourselves more than anything – on a good day, it could have been a really competitive game.”
Conversely, Ely Head Coach Tomi Cole had high praise for her squad’s performance.
“I think these were the best two halves we’ve played all year,” Cole said. “A complete game is what we needed, and I certainly think we got that tonight. It took us awhile to get into a groove and I think we have been playing better since the holiday break. We’re headed in the right direction that we need to be at this time of the year.”
The teams will square off again in Ely on Feb. 12.