The Del Norte girls basketball team won the battle of the Warriors at Hoopa on Monday night.

Freshman Jaylee Keeling led the visitors’ charge and finished with a team-high 19 points, as Del Norte won the game 67-58.

The win avenged a season-opening loss to Hoopa in Crescent City.

The in-form Ivy Lamebear continued her impressive season with a game-high 26 points for the Hoopa girls

With the win, which was their third straight, the Del Norte girls improved to 6-3, while Hoopa saw a three-game winning streak end and dropped to 4-4.

In a back-and-forth game, the visitors opened up a 14-point lead after the opening quarter, but Hoopa battled back to narrow the deficit to six heading into the fourth quarter and pulled within three late.

However, the visitors would hold on down the stretch.

Del Norte senior Tsinte Steinruck, who has been hugely influential in her team’s recent winning streak, helped set the tone early on Monday and scored 12 of her 16 points in the first quarter.

Brooklyn Carter, who also is enjoying a strong season for Del Norte, added 18 points, while teammate Bliss Blackburn chipped in eight points.

“Brooklyn and Jaylee paced us throughout the game and made big shots at important times,” Del Norte head coach Dylan Nelson said. 

Blackburn was clutch at the free-throw lie and nailed all six of her attempts in the second half.

Del Norte also got a big contribution and valuable minutes from freshman Bailey Nunez in the post, with the newcomer scoring a crucial bucket to put her team up by five in the fourth quarter.

Impressive sophomore Wau’Kel Blake added 11 points for Hoopa, while teammate Millennia McKindley finished with eight points and Harmony Nelson chipped in seven points.

“Hats off to Hoopa and their coaching staff, who always come to play,” Dylan Nelson said.

Submitted photo – The Del Norte Warriors