File photo – Lili Nunez

An exciting race is building for the second and third Dick Niclai tournament berths in Big 5 girls basketball, with four teams all within one win of each other heading into the final week of action.

The Del Norte girls kept their tournament hopes alive with a 45-41 win over Fortuna in Crescent City on Thursday night, improving to 2-4 in the Big 5.

Fortuna dropped to 3-4 in league play, while Arcata is now 3-3 after losing to league champs Eureka on Thursday night, while McKinleyville is also in the mix at 2-4.

It should be an interesting conclusion to the league campaign, with plenty on the line over the final four games.

Del Norte’s Lili Nunez scored a game-high 19 points in Thursday’s win, while Brooklyn Carter also had a big all-around game and finished with 14 points.

“Del Norte did a great job of adjusting defensively and we struggled tonight to shoot the ball,” Fortuna head coach Tom Chapman. “We did not get many second opportunities and the Warriors were able to capitalize.”

Isobel Crosswhite scored a team-high 14 points for Fortuna, while Kylee Fennell added 10.

Teal Mostovoy and Ronnee Norwood each chipped in six points, while Haylee Youkey finished with five.