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Take away an opponent’s biggest weapon, and the chances at victory skyrocket.
Ely’s high school boys basketball team did that against visiting North Woods and potent senior Louie Panichi, and the Jan. 3 contest turned into a laugher.
The Timberwolves held the high-scoring Panichi without a field goal while Jack Davies and Caid Chittum combined for 54 points in an 80-53 Arrowhead Conference victory.
Ely’s win launched a busy January for the Wolves, who gave Class AA Greenway a tussle Tuesday before falling 72-59.
The Wolves, who host section rival Northland (Remer) today at 2:30 p.m., are now 7-2 on the season and ranked fourth in Section 7A.
They made a strong impression against North Woods, on a night when Chittum scored his 1,000th career point.
Chittum and Davies, who poured in a game-high 29 points, supplied plenty of offense but the game may have been decided on the defensive end of the floor as Ely’s Wyatt Tedrick and Trenton Bishop contained Panichi.
“I thought we played really well on both ends of the floor against North Woods and we really limited what Louie did which I think affected the flow of their offense,” said Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald. “Wyatt Tedrick did a super job on him and Trent Bishop also did well on him when Wyatt was out. We rebounded well in the zone and we also took care of the basketball and shot well.”
Davies connected from long range to pace the Wolves, and a deep three-pointer just before the half gave the Wolves a commanding 47-28 edge. Ely never looked back.
In addition to his high-scoring output, Davies also snared seven rebounds.
Chittum had eight rebounds to go with his 25 points and junior Drew Johnson continued a brilliant season by finishing an assist shy of a triple-double. He chipped in with 15 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
The Wolves had a matchup problem Tuesday night in Coleraine, in the form of Greenway’s 6-9 junior Stephen McGee V.
Ely was cold early on and fell behind by double-digits, and the Wolves were not able to come all the way back.
“We got down early and never really recovered,” said McDonald. “We did cut it to five in the second half, at 61-56, but faded after that. It was a night where we just couldn’t shoot the ball.”
Ely missed its first 11 three-point baskets and wound up nine-for-38 from three-point distance.
“We struggled inside as their 6-9 kid really changes what we can do in there and struggled from the outside,” said McDonald. “McGee ended up with 34 and there was just not much we could do with his size.”
Chittum paced the Wolves with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Davies was next with 14 points and Tedrick contributed 13.
• Ely’s difficult January slate continues Thursday, with a home game against Mt. Iron-Buhl.
