Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Mataya Sherman, left, and Amaiyah Her have each played a key role for the Crusaders this season.

By Ray Hamill — The St. Bernard’s girls are coming together a little quicker than expected on the basketball courts this winter, and because of that they appear well up to the task of challenging defending league champion Ferndale for this year’s Little 4 pennant.

A young Crusaders team features just two seniors and was not expected to begin peaking until next year, but a developing roster has been deeper than anticipated and is playing at a higher level than head coach Matt Tomlin expected.

“I felt like it was an outstanding preseason,” said Tomlin, whose team is 10-2 after winning two of four December tournaments, while placing second and third in the others. “We had a two-year plan and we felt we would be pretty good by the end of next season, but we’re definitely ahead of where we expected them to be.”

Several players have been contributing, most notably junior Madelyn Shanahan and sophomore Laila Florvilus, each of whom are “college-level basketball players,” according to their coach, with a bright future in the game.

Between them, Shahanan (16.2 points per game) and Florvilus (15.4) are averaging more than 30 points a game and have developed into a potent one-two punch on offense.

Florvilus missed two games last month due to injury and her absence was immediately noticeable.

The team’s better-than-expected start to the season, however, is founded on more than just Shanahan and Florvilus, and several of their teammates have raised the level of their play as well.

That includes senior captain Mataya Sherman, who has been an inspirational leader while playing a key versatile role for the team.

“She can play all five positions on the court,” Tomlin said. “She’s just an intelligent basketball player.”

Junior Amaiyah Her and sophomore Aliyah Vigil have each also brought some energy to the lineup and continue to help set the tone.

“Aliyah Vigil gives us that third scoring option, whether it’s from the free-throw line or the attacking the basket,” Tomlin said of the sophomore guard, who is averaging five points a game. “She’s a real scrappy player and brings a toughness to the team.

Aliyah Vigil

“And the same thing with Amaiyah Her. She’s another scrappy player who brings a toughness to the team.”

The Crusaders were scheduled to begin league play at South Fork on Thursday night, but that game has been postponed because of the stormy conditions and power outages around the North Coast this week and the two teams will now play at St. Bernard’s on Friday night at 6 p.m.

That game will be part of a triple-header, with the schools’ JV and varsity boys playing at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.

The defending champion Ferndale Wildcats appear to be the SB girls’ biggest challengers in this year’s Little 4, with the Hoopa Warriors also fancying their chances, and Tomlin is expecting a battle all the way to the final night.

The Crusaders and Cats will face off at St. Bernard’s on Jan. 19 and at Ferndale in the regular-season finale on Feb. 3, two games that will obviously have a huge say in the championship.

The Ferndale girls have been equally impressive in December and are 10-2.

“They’re a tremendous man-to-man defensive team,” said Tomlin, who set his team’s pre-league schedule with that in mind. “We set up our games to help us prepare for Ferndale.”

And the SB coach believes one Ferndale player in particular poses a real threat. 

“Reaghan Langer is one of the best athletes in the H-DN over the last few years, whether it’s soccer or basketball,” he said of the talented Ferndale junior forward.