Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – St. Bernard’s head coach Mark Gardner talks to his players during Saturday’s game at Eureka.

By Ray Hamill — It was a big weekend for the St. Bernard’s girls in basketball in more ways than one, as they clinched at least a share of a seventh straight conference championship, and followed that by breaking a long losing streak to their crosstown rivals.

And that earns them the nod for this week’s Humboldt Sports Team of the Week.

This week’s athletes of the week, meanwhile, include a couple of sharpshooters.

Former Arcata High standout Ashley Quigley is enjoying a stellar freshman campaign playing basketball for College of the Redwoods, and continued that on Saturday with a 22-point performance at Shasta that included six 3-pointers.

Just as impressive, McKinleyville High freshman Jack Clancy had the play of the season at Fortuna on Friday night, helping the Panthers overcome a 23-point halftime deficit with a stunning half-court buzzer beater to seal their first league win.

And that’s good enough to earn both of them our athlete of the week honors.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Ashley Quigley

CR Basketball, Freshman

Quigley has been outstanding for the high-flying Corsairs for much of the season, scoring a game-high 22 points in a 91-71 win at Shasta, including some pinpoint shooting from downtown.

It was the sixth time this season the former Arcata Tiger has scored 20 or more points, and her six 3s were a season high.

Quigley leads the CR women with 16.7 points a game, and is hitting almost 40 percent from 3-point range.

For more on Quigley’s big weekend, see CR women start fast, roll over Shasta …

Jack Clancy

McKinleyville Basketball, Freshman

Clancy’s last-gasp heroics won’t easily be forgotten at Mack High, as he capped a brilliant comeback for the Panthers with the play of the season.

The freshman standout somehow managed to get a shot off despite almost losing possession on a broken play right at the death, and sent the traveling Mack fans into a frenzy.

It was a great night for a young Panthers team.

For more on Clancy’s big night, see Mack boys win on half-court buzzer-beater …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

St. Bernard’s Girls Basketball

The St. Bernard’s seniors have waited a long time to get the better of the Eureka Loggers, and the Crusaders came into Saturday’s showdown riding a nine-game losing streak to their crosstown rivals.

But this year’s stellar senior class would not be denied, albeit with the help of a freshman for the ages.

The breakthrough victory came just one night after the Crusaders clinched yet another league championship with a comfortable win at Hoopa. 

They will likely clinch a sixth straight outright league championship later this week, and should be a force in the Dick Niclai tournament.

For more on the Crusaders’ big weekend, see St. Bernard’s seniors end long losing streak against Eureka …