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By Ray Hamill — The future of Arcata girls basketball appears to be in good hands.

Especially in overtime games.

Earlier this week, the Arcata freshman girls basketball team capped a memorable season by completing a perfect run through the Big 5.

The clutch Tigers came together on the court as well as anyone could have anticipated this winter and they finished their season with a record of 18-1, including going 6-0 in league play.

Even more impressive was the fact that the players always seemed to raise the level of their game just when they needed to the most and they went 4-0 in overtime games, including a double-OT victory.

“What made them special is they just played as a team,” head coach Melissa Hall said. “They were locked in as a team and they all started trusting each other. Everybody gave everything.”

In addition to their perfect run through league, which included clutch overtime wins over Fortuna and Eureka, this group of young Tigers also won all four tournaments they competed in.

Several players enjoyed big seasons for the team, including team leaders Jocilyn O’Donnell and Kloe Bryant.

O’Donnell impressed enough to be called up to the Arcata varsity team for the postseason and will be on the bench when the Tigers begin the Dick Niclai tournament against McKinleyville on Monday.

“That’s a huge accomplishment for a 14-year-old,” Hall said of the standout point guard.

The coach also believes that Bryant has a big future with the program and looks set to play a pivotal role over the next few years.

“She’s phenomenal,” Hall said. “And she’s smart. And it helps when you have a smart kid that good.”

But it was their leadership that impressed the coach then most.

“The players trusted their team captains,” Hall said. “They trusted their lead. And their level of discipline was impressive.”

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Other players on the team also stepped up this year, including vocal leader Sariah Vainuku, who continually pumped up her teammates for the overtime battles.

Melanie Jackson also impressed at center and became one of the team’s most reliable players, especially with her rebounding.

Olivia Beck is another player who made a big contribution to the team and was one of the Tigers’ most unselfish players.

“I had to keep telling her to shoot if you’re open because she always wanted to pass,” Hall said with a chuckle.

Multi-sport standout Nallia Meyer, who also plays softball and is a swimmer, was the team’s first player off the bench and impressed with her athleticism.

“I was truly honored to coach these players and I believe that many of the players on this team will go on to play varsity,” Hall added. “Every one of these kids, they gave everything.

“They all respected each other and there was no drama.”

Carolyn Wansick, Evelyn Strand, Ada Kinziger and Rose Mondragon rounded out the talented roster and each also played a key role.

Arcata senior Jatoba Burchill served as an assistant coach and was “a valuable addition to the team … and a wonderful senior mentor for the freshman girls,” according to Hall.

“What I truly appreciated about this group of girls, especially in overtime games, was when starters would foul out the rest of the team would always step up and finish strong to clinch the win,” the head coach added.

The players also responded well to the challenges they were given.

“At our very first practice, this team set a goal to be undefeated,” Hall said. “I am very proud that they achieved that goal in league and by winning every tournament they played.”

And that’s good news not just for the players but for the future of Arcata High basketball.