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Boys and girls basketball, hockey events attract total of 13 teams
Unlike most high school winter sports teams around Minnesota, those in Ely enjoy home court or home ice advantage and have the luxury of staying at home over the holiday break.
That’s because Ely plays host to not one, not two, but three separate holiday tournaments.
Those are set for this week, bringing a virtual smorgasbord of sports to town from Thursday, Dec. 26 through Saturday, Dec. 28.
In all, the events include 13 teams encompassing 15 separate games over the three-day span.
Hockey was added to the lineup last year, adding to an already busy slate of basketball games from holiday tournaments that have been existence for many years.
The four-team hockey event opens at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ely Arena with Moose Lake Area taking on Kittson County Central of northwestern Minnesota.
Host Ely, which won three narrow contests to win last year’s tournament, takes on May-Port (N.D.) at 7 p.m.
Two more games are on tap Friday evening in the round-robin event, with Saturday’s schedule a matinee starting at noon, followed by Ely and Moose Lake at 2:30 p.m. to close things out.
The holiday basketball tournaments take on different formats this season, with just three teams and three games in the round-robin event, while the boys basketball tournament encompasses three days with six teams taking part.
In the girls event, Ely hosts Cook County at 7:15 p.m. Thursday and Two Harbors at 2:15 p.m. Saturday. In between, Two Harbors and Cook County square off in a battle for North Shore supremacy.
Ely has a 5-2 record so far this winter and figures to be tested by both holiday opponents.
The Ely boys, meanwhile, have won five straight contests to open the season and take on Class AA Two Harbors at 7 p.m. Friday, and Bigfork at 4 p.m., Saturday.
Greenway, International Falls, and Cook County are also in the event.
Because of the tournament format, season passes for Ely events will not be honored and daily admission prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.
