Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Kira Morris defends Fortuna’s Teal Mostovoy during Thursday’s game at the McKinleyville tournament.

A good week of practice paid off for the McKinleyville girls in their own tournament opener on Thursday night.

The Panthers outscored Yreka in each of the opening three quarters on the way to a 48-37 win.

Also in action on Thursday, Eureka pulled away late to beat Fortuna 73-46 at the Mack tournament, and the Ferndale girls kept their unbeaten start to the season going with a 62-26 win over the host team at the Kelseyville tournament.

The Wildcats improved to 5-0.

The Arcata girls, meanwhile, traveled to the Red Bluff tournament, but had a bye on Thursday and will now open against either Red Bluff or Foothill on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

McKinleyville 48, Yreka 37

Kathryn Tinney scored a team-high 11 points for the Panthers, while teammate Kim Lewis scored 10.

“The girls played well,” head coach Jacob Cheek said. “They worked hard in practice this week and it showed on the court.”

Camryn Pinard added nine points in the win, as the Panthers improved to 3-4, while Bella Turner scored six points.

Kylie Daws scored a game-high 14 for Yreka.

Both teams will continue the three-day round robin tournament on Friday.

Yreka plays Eureka at 5:30 p.m. and McKinleyville plays Fortuna at 7 p.m.

Ferndale 62, Kelseyville 26

The high-scoring Wildcats continued their impressive start to the new season with another big offensive showing on Thursday.

Kyla Albee scored a game-high 21 points in the win, while teammate Haidyn Fulton finished with 17 points.

Gabriella Rice also had a big night in the win and finished with eight points, while teammates Reaghan Langer and Sierra Fulton each chipped in six points.

The Wildcats will try to keep their unbeaten run going when they play Middletown in tourney play on Friday evening.