Boys, girls basketball alumni play on new court
by Toni Zaverl
The fifth annual Ely High School basketball alumni games was a little different. Just to start it off, the games had to be played in the new gym due to the water being turned off in the big gym.
Second, a new person was taking over this year’s and future years alumni games. Reed Petersen is taking over for Toni Zaverl who started the alumni games in 2018 when her daughter graduated high school.
Petersen is an alumni Ely player, on the Ely Hoop Club board and has two daughters in the basketball program.
On Saturday, the first game started with the girls at 1 p.m. The girls numbers this year were not as high as years past, as there were a couple of late cancellations. But these eight ladies gave it their all on the court.
The white team ended up winning 44-37.
Playing on the white team were Erika Mattson with 22 points, Erin Muhvich Manning with 12 points, Sally Petersen Dietzenbach with six points, and Amanda Maki with four points.
And playing on the red team were Shayla Zaverl with 14 points, Missy LaTourell with 10 points, Mindy LaTourell with nine points and Jen Klobuchar Zgonc with four points.
The boys had a little bit better turnout with 17 players. The white team picked up a 60-55 win.
Playing for the red team were Brock LaTourell with 18 points, Bob LaTourell with 15 points, Evan Omerza with 11 points, Tony Carlson had five points, Reed Petersen had four points, Phil Meier with two points plus team members Izaak Nosbich, Dave Archer, Dan Thunhorst.
Playing for the white team were Pat Vanderbeek with 19 points, and Riley Bishop with 10 points, Jay Soderberg with nine points, Michael Lah with seven points, Max Gantt, Emmett Penke and Eric Omerza each with five points plus team member Adam McDonald.
Thank you to Tom Omerza for getting everything set up and reffing the games again this year and to the Ely girls basketball team members for doing the clock.
To all players thank you playing. It was fun watching all of you. And thank you for everyone that came to the games to cheer on the players.
