Submitted photo – Bella Vigil in action for the Butte women earlier this season.

Former Eureka Logger Bella Vigil has advanced to the state Elite Eight tournament with the Butte Roadrunners after a 74-63 win over Folsom Lake College on Saturday.

The 2021 Eureka High graduate has played a key role off the bench this season for the Butte women, who are the No. 1 seed in NorCal and are now just three wins from a state championship.

Vigil, who plays shooting guard, has seen just limited minutes on a deep and talented Butte roster, but she has made her presence felt on and off the court, while earning the respect of her teammates and coaches.

Earlier this season, Butte head coach Tyler Newton described Vigil as “one of my favorite kids I’ve ever coached.” 

“She really embodies everything our program is about,” he said. “She’s a great teammate, she works hard and she always has a positive attitude.”

The respect the Roadrunners have for the former Logger is reflected in the fact she is a team captain this year.

Vigil, who plays more of a defensive role with the team, played six minutes in Saturday’s win and finished with three points and a steal.

The Butte women trailed by four points at halftime, but dominated the second half, outscoring their opponents 19-8 in the third quarter to take control.

With the win, they improved to 26-3.