Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Malia Guilbert scored a game-high 16 points in Tuesday’s NCS win.

By Ray Hamill — Malia Guilbert and the Eureka Loggers decisively took control of their opening game in the North Coast Section playoffs in the first half on Tuesday night, going on an early 24-0 run on the way to an emphatic 67-29 win.

Team defense again was pivotal in the win, with the Eureka girls holding the visiting Dragons to just three points in the opening quarter and to just 15 through the opening three quarters.

Guilbert, who earlier this season received a scholarship to row at Sac State after graduation, is closing out her high school basketball career on a high.

The Eureka senior scored a game-high 16 points and was instrumental in the first-half dominance.

So too was junior Bella Vigil, who added 11 points, and senior Carly Boynton, who finished with nine points.

Check out some of the highlights from Tuesday’s win.

For more on the game, see Eureka girls cruise in NCS playoff opener …