Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Hoopa girls played at St. Bernard’s on Friday night.

By Ray Hamill — The Hoopa Warriors are a determined bunch.

Wins may have been difficult to come by this season for the girls basketball team, but no one in Hoopa is throwing in the towel just yet.

In fact they’re welcoming the challenge.

“Once we get it together, all the local teams had better watch out,” head coach Crissy Robbins said.

There is no doubt the Warriors have shown some promise at times this season and posses a handful of talented players that would contribute on any team.

Hoopa’s Naschewen Hunsucker

And it’s a group that continues to battle no matter how overwhelming the odds may seem.

In Friday’s 69-32 loss to a St. Bernard’s team that has now won 32 straight games in the Little 4, the visiting Warriors got stronger as the game wore on, particularly on defense.

And they have been showing signs of improvement.

“I think we’re bringing more intensity to our game,” the head coach said.

In particular, senior Naschewen Hunsucker and juniors Jada McCovey and K-Lynn Dowd-Swanson have been leading the way.

Head coach Crissy Robbins and her bench react during Friday’s game at St. Bernard’s.

Hunsucker, a multi-sports standout athlete, gives the Warriors an inside presence and is an outstanding rebounder.

“She rebounds that ball,” Robbins said with a smile. “She just gets above everyone else.”

Hunsucker also has provided some much-needed leadership, as have the two standout junior guards.

Hoopa’s Dawn Van Pelt

“K-Lynn has been pretty solid for us on defense, as well as offense, and she’s been a great leader for us,” Robbins said. “She’s up there with Naschewen as a huge part of our team offensively and defensively, as well as Jada.”

Next up, the Warriors travel to play at McKinleyville on Tuesday night.