Drew Johnson Scores 1,000th Point as Ely Falls at Deer River

Drew Johnson hit the 1,000th point of his high-school career while Ely battled back for a halftime tie, but the Timberwolves fell at Deer River 72-54. Johnson finished the game with 12 points, and Jack Davies led Ely with 15 as the Wolves were unable to overcome a late Deer River run.

The game was knotted at halftime before the hosts pulled ahead near the eight-minute mark in the fourth quarter. Ely trailed 48-45 with about eight minutes remaining when Deer River went on a decisive run; Deer River’s late shooting separated the teams and Ely struggled offensively in the stretch. Ely Head Coach Tom McDonald said, “We were tied at half and played really well until about the eight-minute mark when they went on a run that we couldn’t recover from. They shot the ball really well then and we shot poorly.” McDonald added more broadly, “I thought we competed well with one of the better teams in the section. They made a run on us that we couldn't recover from. They shot the ball well late and we didn't. It was nice to compete with them, though, on their home court.”

The milestone caps a strong season for Johnson, who leads Ely with 22.1 points per game, about six rebounds per night and a team-best 4.6 assists. McDonald praised Johnson’s two-way play and work ethic: “It was nice to see Drew get his 1000th point early in the second half.” McDonald went on to say, “Drew has become a very good player on both ends of the floor and is such a hard worker and it was nice to see him get rewarded for that hard work. He is having a great year for us.”

The Deer River loss is part of a bumpy stretch for Ely. Three nights earlier Ely fell 58-56 at home to Cromwell when a late three-pointer stole the game after Ely had led for nearly the entire contest. Davies scored 23 in that matchup. In the Cromwell game, Johnson scored 12 and hauled down nine rebounds while a teammate listed as Tedrick also contributed 12. Earlier in the stretch Ely posted a lopsided win, 98-25 over Mesabi East, showing the Wolves’ scoring potential when shots fall.

Ely enters the closing weeks of the regular season 14-6 and rated seventh in Section 7A, while Deer River sits near the top at 14-3 and second in the section. These results matter to the St. Louis County community where high school gyms are gathering places and youth sports shape physical activity, social connection and local identity. Close losses carry emotional weight for players, families and coaches, and they highlight the need for continued support for athletic programs, mental health resources for student-athletes and equitable access to training and facilities across smaller towns.

For Ely, Johnson’s 1,000th point is a celebration of individual dedication amid a season of ups and downs. The Wolves now turn their focus to the final stretch of Section 7A play, where every game will influence postseason seeding and give the community more chances to rally around its seniors.