Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Eureka Loggers are 13-1 against H-DN teams this season.

By Ray Hamill — The high-flying Eureka girls have won 11 of their last 12 games and are a very impressive 13-1 against H-DN teams this winter.

Because of that, the Big 5 champions will be the heavy favorites heading into next week’s Dick Niclai Tournament.

The two-time defending Niclai champs open on Thursday against either Ferndale or Hoopa at College of the Redwoods.

They have also been No. 1 in our rankings all season.

The St. Bernard’s Crusaders, meanwhile, remain at No. 2 in our rankings after bouncing back from a surprise loss at Hoopa with an impressive come-from-behind win at Ferndale on Friday on the way to clinching the Little 4 championship.

The Del Norte girls remain at No 3 despite their surprise loss at home to Arcata on Friday night.

The Warriors could be the one team capable of knocking off the Loggers in the Niclai tournament after recently handing them their only loss against H-DN teams this season.

The McKinleyville Panthers remain at No. 4 and will also be looking to make some noise in both the Niclai and North Coast Section playoffs.

Likewise with the Arcata Tigers, who remain at No. 5 after their surprise win at Del Norte to close out league play.

The Tigers did not qualify for the Niclai tournament but are NCS playoff eligible and ranked No. 7 in Division 4.

The Arcata girls are arguably the most intriguing of all the local teams.

Despite their inconsistency, on their day they can match up effectively with most teams, so a deep playoff run is certainly possible.

The Ferndale Wildcats re-enter our rankings this week and are tied at No. 5 after finishing second in the Little 4 and giving the SB girls all they could handle in Friday’s league finale.

Ferndale head coach Terra Albee and her players look on during Friday’s game against St. Bernard’s.

POWER RANKINGS

1 — Eureka (22-5)

Loggers are playing smart, team-oriented basketball right now

2 — St. Bernard’s (20-4)

A first-ever 20-win season for the Crusaders 

3 — Del Norte (16-7)

A surprise loss to Arcata on Friday, but Warriors remain one of the top teams in the area

4 — McKinleyville (15-8)

The Panthers are poised to make some noise in the postseason

5T — Arcata (12-11)

Inconsistency has plagued the Tigers but on their day they can match up with anyone in the H-DN

5T — Ferndale (17-6)

The Wildcats pushed St. Bernard’s all the way on Friday