The McKinleyville girls continued to roll in Thursday’s opening game at the Yreka tournament.

For the third time in four days the Panthers won a lopsided game as their team defense dominated.

The Panthers defeated Glide 48-9 and have now held their first three opponents of the season — Kelseyville, Fort Bragg and Glide — to a combined 47 points.

And while the competition will no doubt get stronger as the season continues, for now the Mack girls are taking care of business at the defensive end of the floor.

In other local games on Thursday, the Del Norte girls also won at the Yreka tournament, improving to 2-1 on the season with a 52-45 win over Klamath Union.

The St. Bernard’s girls also were in action at the Cloverdale tournament and won their opening game 81-39 against Round Valley.

Senior Gabby Watson continued her impressive start to the new season at both ends of the court for McKinleyville and scored a game-high 16 points in the win.

Bailee Box also impressed for the Panthers and added 11 points, while Ahty Allen chipped in six points.

Grace Pimentel and MaryAnn Som finished with five and four points, respectively.

The Panthers are now 3-0.

Thursday’s win sets up a tournament showdown against Henley on Friday at 5 p.m.

Del Norte 52, Klamath Union 45

Junior Bliss Blackburn led a spirited fourth-quarter performance by the Del Norte girls, who won their opener at the Yreka tournament.

Blackburn scored 10 points in the win, including nine in the final period, and helped key the late surge as the Warriors improved to 2-1 on the season with a strong finish to the game.

“Really proud of Bliss in the fourth,” said Del Norte head coach Dylan Nelson who described it as a “very clutch performance.”

Blackburn wasn’t the only standout in the win,

Freshman Jaylee Keeling continued her impressive start to the new season with another big game and finished with a team-high 21 points after also scoring 15 points in a win over Ferndale earlier in the week.

The trip seemed to affect the Warriors early in the game, but Keeling helped get them going.

“It was an up and down game,” Nelson said. “Jaylee had a big first half and gave us a lead in an otherwise slow start from the team. A little road lag impacted our energy.”

Trailing late in the game, the Del Norte players secured the victory with a big finish and “were more aggressive on the glass and defensive end,” according to the coach.

Senior Makana Baugh also helped key the strong finish and “took control of the paint when it mattered most,” the coach added.

Brooklyn Carter chipped in nine points for the Del Norte girls, who continue tournament play against either Brookings or Yreka on Friday at 8 p.m.

St. Bernard’s 81, Round Valley 39

The defending state champs got the new season off to a flying start with a big win at the Cloverdale tournament.

All 11 St. Bernard’s girls scored in the win, including last season’s Humboldt Sports player of the year Laila Florvilus, who finished with a game-high 20 points.

Samantha Sundberg added 13 points, while Kayla Maples had nine points and Carli Baum chipped in eight points.

Jocelyn Sundberg, Tally Williams and Ella Hart each also had six points.

The Crusaders will continue tournament play on Friday when they play Windsor at 6 pm.