Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Tigers celebrate their big win on Friday night.

By Ray Hamill — This time the Tigers would not be denied.

After seeing a big lead evaporate in last year’s Dick Niclai tournament final loss to McKinleyville, it appeared as if the Arcata boys might be headed toward a similar fate in this year’s final at Lumberjack Arena on Friday night.

They led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, before St. Bernard’s mounted a thrilling comeback to tie the game late in the period, and everyone in the packed house could see the momentum had shifted.

But the Tigers, who are playing their best ball of the season right now, dug deep in the fourth quarter just when they needed it the most, and they held on late for a 65-60 victory to secure a 10th championship in the past 15 Niclai tournaments.

Asked to describe his team’s performance, Arcata head coach Kellen Maynard answered with one word.

“Resilient,” he said. “I said on Monday (after the Tigers beat McKinleyville) how these guys are gutsy and gritty, and they are, but tonight was about resilience.

“St. Bernard’s is everything we thought they would be and we had to dig deep tonight.”

It was a highly entertaining showdown between arguably the two best teams in the H-DNL and a great atmosphere at Lumberjack Arena, and it was not only a perfect way to cap a super competitive league season but also a fitting way to follow what had been a very exciting girls Niclai final earlier in the evening, which was won by the Eureka girls.

Despite making just four of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter, the Tigers were able to hold on late for the win.

“It was a team win, and the guys, they just believed,” Maynard said. “These guys never wavered. There was never any doubt that we weren’t going to finish the job at the end. I’m proud of them for finishing what we set out to accomplish.

“And everybody that went into the game did something to help us.”

The game got off to a flying start with a flurry of 3-pointers thrilling the packed house on what has become one of the biggest and most anticipated nights of the local sporting calendar. 

Both teams answered each other blow for blow and combined for seven 3s in the first quarter, including three by St. Bernard’s Aaiden Burris.

The senior standout had 13 points in the opening 12 minutes of the game, while Arcata sophomore Luke Lemke was even more impressive and scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the opening 12 minutes.

Cheered on by a loud and enthusiastic student section — does any school in Humboldt County have a better student section? — the Tigers held just a three-point lead at halftime, but would quickly add to their advantage with a 13-2 run to start the third quarter.

That, however, seemed to spark the Crusaders, who battled back just as quickly to tie the game at 49-49 late in the period.

But the final period belonged to the Big 5 co-champs and their defense held a dangerous SB team that was riding a 15-game winning streak dating back to mid December to just 11 points for the period.

“Arcata’s a good basketball team and we just turned it over too many times,” St. Bernard’s head coach Issac Gildea said. “And they made some good shots down the stretch.”

In addition to the ever-dangerous Lemke, the Tigers also got big performances from Dayquan Dunn, Kalani Butor and Levi Sims.

Dunn finished with 14 points, while Butor stepped up big late in the game and Sims added some tenacious defense.

“Dayquan controlled the paint,” said Maynard, who added of Sims, “he really was the spark plug for us. He’s so aggressive in the press. He is my best pressing player. No doubt about it. And tonight he had some huge plays for us.”

Butor, who is one of just two seniors on this year’s roster, also played a pivotal role late in the game.

“Kalani in the first half was real tentative,” said the Arcata coach, who talked to the senior at halftime. “And later in the game, when we changed our lineup to get quick, he came up and got that steal at half court (late in the fourth quarter) that essentially put the game away for us.

“With the game on the line in that situation, and being a senior not wanting to let that moment get away from him, he made a senior leader play to help us put the game away.”

Butor, Sims, Dawson Vallerga and Jack Luh each scored six points for Arcata, while Lennon Gieder chipped in five points.

St. Bernard’s was led by Burris and fellow senior Seth Dyer, who each scored 17 points, while sophomore Liam Dyer added 13 points.

Burris had four 3s, while Liam Dyer hit three 3s and Seth Dyer was 5-for-6 at the free throw line.

Rowan Cromwell added eight points for the Crusaders, who dropped to 21-3, while impressive freshman Garrett Shanahan finished with seven points.

“My seniors played with a lot of heart,” Gildea said of the class that includes Burris, Seth Dyer and Cromwell. 

Gildea also praised the play of Liam Dyer, who is one of the most impressive sophomores in the H-DNL, as well as fellow sophomore Tyler Hinrichs, who gave the Crusaders some good minutes off the bench.

The Tigers, who have picked up the level of their game over the past couple of weeks, improved to 17-10 as they now get set for the North Coast Section playoffs.

“I wish them the best of luck in the playoffs,” Gildea said. 

Both the Tigers and Crusaders should get a pretty high seed in their respective brackets for the NCS tournaments, with the seedings and brackets set to be announced on Sunday.