Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Wednesday’s Dick Niclai tournament semifinal between Eureka and Hoopa.

By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers are headed back to the Dick Niclai championship game in girls basketball after a dominating 62-36 win over the Hoopa Warriors in the semifinals at College of the Redwoods on Wednesday night.

The Loggers came out ready to go against the Warriors and quickly took control of the game, scoring 18 unanswered points in the first quarter to open up 23-6 lead.

And after that there was no way back for the Warriors.

“That’s what I preached,” Eureka head coach Cliff Napoleon said of the fast start. “Don’t underestimate (Hoopa) and be ready to play.

“We knew what Hoopa brings. They bring tenacity and they’re going to get after it, and they brought that and then some.”

The Hoopa girls settled into the game and would outscore the Loggers 10-8 in the second quarter, but the early deficit would prove too much to overcome.

Kaitlin Giacone and Samara Gaither each scored a game-high 18 points in the win, including eight for Giacone in the first quarter to help set the tone.

“She did well managing the game for us,” Napoleon said of Giacone.

Teammate Isis Poteet added a double-double, scoring 12 points and also finishing in double-digits in rebounds, while freshman Tiara Maualuga had six points and sophomore Nashya Williams chipped in five points.

“We had good minutes for everyone,” Napoleon said. “Everybody got to play tonight, which is nice, and everybody played well.”

After doing “a lot of silly things” in the second quarter, according to the coach, the Eureka girls took control of the game again after the interval.

“That’s a tough team and we played them hard for the first half,” Hoopa head coach Floyd “Cowboy” Billings said of the Loggers. “They’re a lot quicker and faster and it showed, but my girls battled hard.

“My girls never gave up and showed some great heart.”

Senior team leader Tashee Tracy led the way for the Warriors and scored a team-high 12 points, while Talena Downs-Miguelena, Maggie Morris and Wau’Kel Blake added five points apiece.

Ivy Lamebear also scored four points for Hoopa, which dropped to 12-9.

The Loggers, meanwhile, improved to 21-4 as they get set for a rematch with St. Bernard’s in Friday night’s tournament final.

The Eureka girls are three-time defending Niclai champions and will be looking to join Arcata and McKinleyville as the only schools to win at least four straight tournament titles.

In the other semifinal on Wednesday, the SB girls rallied to beat Arcata 52-49.

The Crusaders are the only H-DNL team to beat Eureka this year, winning 47-42 at St. Bernard’s last month.

And the Loggers are looking forward to the rematch and a chance to win another Niclai championship.

“I know the girls are excited,” Napoleon said. “St. Bernard’s is a great team.”

Unfortunately for the Loggers, freshman point guard Oliviana Millender left Wednesday’s game injured in the second half and her status for the tournament final remains uncertain.

If she can’t go, Giacone will switch to point guard for the big showdown.

Friday’s game will be played at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Lumberjack Arena, with tip off set for 6 p.m.

The game will be broadcast live on The Beat 95.1 FM.

The Hoopa Warriors will now turn their attention toward next week’s North Coast Section playoffs and are hoping to get a home game in the opening round.

The brackets will be announced on Sunday.