Unstoppable: Coach Ron Drake Leads Lady Timberwolves to Victory Amid Personal Battle

SANTA FE, NM — In a program that has long searched for its footing, the East Mountain Lady Timberwolves are currently rewriting their history books. With a dominant 46-26 victory over the Academy for Technology and the Classics (ATC) on Tuesday night, the Timberwolves moved to 6-5 on the season—inching closer to the first winning record in the program’s history.

The win was a testament to the culture built by head coach Ron Drake, the winningest girls’ basketball coach in New Mexico history. But for Drake, the battle on the court is only half the story.

A Dominant Start

The Lady Timberwolves left no doubt from the opening tip-off. Utilizing a suffocating press that Drake praised after the game, East Mountain jumped out to a staggering 16-1 lead in the first quarter.

The early offensive spark came from a trio of players:

• Evelyn Kannolt: 7 first-quarter points
• Kate Hushman: 5 first-quarter points
• Maya Cheney: 4 first-quarter points

By halftime, the lead had swelled to 29-8. While ATC attempted to fight back in the second half, the deficit was too steep to overcome. East Mountain’s defense remained the story of the night, holding ATC to single digits in each of the first three quarters.

“What’s been coming together the last couple of weeks is the defense,” Drake said. “We gave up 16 to Coronado in three quarters, and tonight, good defense again. I’m happy with the press; it’s been working.”

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The Heart of a Champion

While his team is fighting for a historic season, Coach Drake is locked in a much tougher fight off the court. At 74 years old, Drake is currently battling Stage 3 rectal cancer.

Despite having completed seven chemotherapy treatments—with an eighth scheduled for Monday—and facing upcoming radiation, Drake hasn’t wavered in his commitment to his players. He hasn’t missed a single practice or game.

The physical toll is immense. Drake has worn a chemo pump hidden under his jacket during several games and faces another stretch that last five days at a time. The treatment makes him extremely sensitive to the cold. Yet, following the win in Santa Fe, Drake insisted on driving himself home, cranked the car’s heater up to 80 degrees, and prepared for the next practice.

“I don’t plan on [missing anything],” Drake said defiantly. “Once I’m in the car, I’m fine. Just gotta keep it nice and toasty going home.”

Box Score Highlights

The Lady Timberwolves showed impressive depth in the scoring column, led by a powerhouse performance from Evelyn Kannolt.

Player	Points
Evelyn Kannolt	19
Kate Hushman	14
Addison Springall	3
Maya Cheney	4
Elizabeth Appel	3
G. Navarro-Chavez	3
Mackenzie Thomas	1

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Looking Ahead

The road doesn’t get any easier for the Lady Timberwolves. They travel to Jemez Springs this Thursday, followed by a gauntlet next week that includes matchups against St. Michael’s (Tuesday), Estancia (Thursday), and Santa Fe Prep (Friday and Saturday).

If the Lady Timberwolves can maintain this defensive intensity, the program’s first-ever winning season isn’t just a goal—it’s a looming reality. And with Ron Drake at the helm, “quit” clearly isn’t in the team’s vocabulary.