Photo by Taunya Brunton

By Ray Hamill — An impressive field of H-DNL girls basketball teams are not only among the top-ranked programs in the North Coast Section but are also making their presence felt in the state rankings.

In fact, according to the most recent MaxPreps rankings, more than half of the H-DNL teams feature in the top 10 in their divisions in the entire state.

Leading the way are Little 4 rivals St. Bernard’s (D-5) and Ferndale (D-6), each of whom are ranked No. 1 in their NCS divisions and No. 4 in the state.

The Eureka girls, who are the highest-ranked local team overall in the NCS at No. 9, are also ranked high in their division in both the section and the state.

The Loggers, who have lost just once all year, are No. 2 in NCS Division 3, behind No. 1 Acalanes, and are No. 7 among D-3 schools in the entire state.

The Hoopa girls, meanwhile, are No. 2 in NCS Division 5, just one spot behind St. Bernard’s, and are also ranked No. 9 in the state, just five spots behind the Crusaders.

And that’s not all for the H-DNL.

Fresh off their tournament championship at Enterprise this week, the McKinleyville girls are No. 10 in the state in Division 4 and No. 5 in the section.

In Division 3, Del Norte is No. 12 in the state and Arcata is No. 13, and in Division 4 Fortuna is No. 15, meaning eight of the nine H-DNL teams are ranked in the top 15 in the state in their divisions.

The second Humboldt Sports Power Rankings of the season, meanwhile, remain much the same as the first ranking two weeks ago.

Eureka reminds at No. 1, followed by St. Bernard’s at No. 2.

We have a change at No. 3, with McKinvleyville leapfrogging rivals Arcata, while Del Norte remains steady at No. 5.

The depth of the league this year is showcased by the fact that Fortuna, Hoopa and Ferndale, each of whom have been very immersive through the first month of the season, remain outside the top five.

For now.

GIRLS POWER RANKINGS

1 — Eureka (11-1)

The Loggers will carry a nine-game winning streak into conference play.

2 — St. Bernard’s (14-1)

The Crusaders look like the team to beat in the Little 4.

3 — McKinleyville (12-4)

The Panthers are ranked No. 15 overall out of 137 teams in the NCS.

4 — Arcata (9-5)

The Tigers are ranked No. 13 in the state in Division 3.

5 — Del Norte (12-5)

The Warriors open conference play with two home games next week.