Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Emma Wilson of St. Bernard’s and Vivian Cronin of Arcata in action earlier this season.

By Ray Hamill — As they get set to tip off the Little 4 this week, the St. Bernard’s Crusaders are the top-ranked local girls basketball team, according to MaxPreps.

The Crusaders, who are off to an impressive 6-2 start this season, are ranked No. 23 overall out of 135 programs in the North Coast Section, six spots ahead of their crosstown rivals, the Eureka Loggers.

The Crusaders, who have already knocked off three Big 5 opponents and will tip off league play as favorites in the L4, are also the No. 3 Division-4 team in the NCS and the No. 11 Division-4 team in California.

And they’re not the only highly-ranked team in the area.

Their Little 4 rivals, Ferndale and South Fork, are also among the top teams in the section and in the state in their division and expected to push the Crusaders all the way in league.

The Wildcats (8-2) are No. 1 among NCS Division-6 teams, with the Cubs (8-2) just two spots back at No. 3.

The Cats are also No. 3 among D-6 teams in all of California, with the Cubs at No. 7

The Ferndale girls are also No. 48 overall in the NCS, a very impressive showing for the smallest H-DNL school competing in the sport.

Big 5 favorite Eureka (10-6), meanwhile, is No. 7 among Division-3 NCS teams, while a young Arcata team (7-5) is No. 6 in Division 6 and No. 44 overall in the NCS.

The H-DNL has five teams ranked in the top 17 in NCS Division 4, a list that also includes No. 11 Fortuna, No. 13 McKinleyville and No. 17 Del Norte.