Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Aliyah Vigil and the St. Bernard’s girls are ranked No. 4 in California among Division-5 teams.

By Ray Hamill — It has been a very impressive start to the new season for almost all of the H-DNL basketball teams, including four local girls teams who are ranked in the top eight in their divisions in California.

And that should make for a competitive and exciting new year when league tips off.

The most impressive team so far has been the Eureka girls, who are off to an 11-1 start that has included victories over some of the best team sin the North Coast Section.

The Loggers’ only loss so far came against an Acalanes team that is ranked No. 2 in the section behind only San Ramon Valley.

Since then the Loggers have won nine straight games.

The Eureka girls are the top-ranked H-DNL team — boys or girls — in the NCS, according to MaxPreps at No. 11 overall.

The Loggers are also No. 3 in Division 3.

But they’re not the only local team that is riding high in the rankings, and all nine H-DNL girls teams have winning records.

The Arcata girls are just two spots back at No. 13 overall in the NCS and are ranked No. 4 in Division 4.

The Tigers., who are 7-2, are also No. 6 in California among D-4 teams.

Next is Del Norte (9-2), which is No. 15 in the NCS and No. 5 in Division 4, followed by St. Bernard’s (7-1) at No. 16 in the NCS and No. 2 in Division 5.

Del Norte is also No. 8 among D-4 teams in all of California, while SB is No. 4 in the state in D-5.

The fifth highest ranked local team is Hoopa Valley at No. 27 in the NCS out of 151 teams and No. 5 in Division 5.

The Warriors are also ranked No. 8 in all of California among D-5 teams.

Rounding out the local rankings, Fortuna (9-4) is No. 43 in the NCS, Ferndale (7-3) is No. 45, McKinleyville (6-5) No. 47 and South Fork (8-5) No. 108.

Fortuna is also ranked No. 10 in Division 4, Ferndale is No. 10 in Division 5, McKinleyville is No. 11 in Division 4 and South Fork is No. 7 in Division 6.

Remarkably, the H-DNL has five girls teams in the top 27 in the NCS.

The Hoopa Warriors are ranked No. 8 in California.