The Ferndale girls have been playing without one of their best players early in the new basketball season, but that hasn’t slowed them down much.

On Tuesday night, the Wildcats stretched their winning streak to three straight games with a 46-26 win at Hayfork.

The Ferndale girls are now 3-1 on the season as they get set to open the Weaverville tournament on Thursday against Willows at 5:45 p.m.

“I like their heart and grit,” head coach Chris Ardrey said of his players. “They just want to get better and they’re good kids.”

Influential junior Michaela Ellsmore has missed the opening four games of the season after picking up an injury late in the soccer season and the Cats should only get better when she returns.

The team’s starting point guard is expected back in the lineup soon.

In her place, fellow junior Tinnley Pidgeon has moved from the wing to point guard and she has enjoyed a good start to the new season.

Pidgeon scored a game-high 21 points in Tuesday’s win and has been the Cats’ high scorer in all three of their wins.

One of the things that has Ardrey most excited about this season is the development of sophomore post Gianna Regli, who scored 12 points on Tuesday and gives the team a dominant presence in the paint.

“We might have an inside-outside game this year,” Ardrey said with a chuckle.

With the continued development of Regli, coupled with Ellsmore’ return, the Cats should have plenty of weapons and some much-needed depth this winter.

Both Gossi sisters — junior Madison and sophomore Olivia — also have been playing key roles early in the season for the team.

Olivia scored seven points at Hayfork, while Madison added four points.

Junior Clara Albee also is expected to play a big role for the team this season, but was unable to make the trip to Hayfork.

However, she should be back in the lineup at Weaverville.

In her place, freshman Claire Renner stepped into the starting lineup and had an immediate impact.

The Cats will also be boosted by the addition of a pair of transfers later in the season, when senior Emily Sauers and junior Quinn Stokesberry are eligible.

Senior Breanna Taylor and junior Belky Gallardo round out a talented roster and give Ardrey plenty of options this season.

The Cats also traveled to play at the Cloverdale tournament last week and won both of their games on Friday and Saturday after being forced to pull out of they tournament opener because of the earthquake.

They defeated Point Arena 50-30 and Lower Lake 36-15.

Pidgeon scored 17 points against Point Arena and Albee added 12.

Pidgeon also scored 16 against Lower Lake and is averaging a team-best 16.8 points a game, while Olivia Gossi added eight points.