By Ray Hamill — The race for the Little 4 in boys basketball could be the closest and hardest to call of any of the four conferences in H-DNL basketball this winter.
Unlike the other three conferences, all of which appear to have a clearcut favorite, there is no one team that stands out above the others in the boys Little 4.
The action gets under way on Friday night with a pair of games scheduled, and all four schools will be eager to start fast with every game crucial.
The St. Bernard’s Crusaders are the defending champions and have impressed once again in tournament action this year, piecing together a seven-game winning streak heading into the weekend.
Whether or not they can continue that impressive run when conference play gets under way remains to be seen, but a deep and talented roster says they will be a tough out for any of their Little 4 opponents.
The South Fork Boys, who won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, will also fancy their chances to win this year’s conference.
The Cubs look ready for league play after winning six of their last eight games heading into this weekend and they have proven to be one of the most competitive and consistent programs in the area in recent years.
The Hoopa Warriors, meanwhile, could very well be the most improved team in the entire H-DNL this winter, boys or girls, and have been every bit as impressive as any of their conference rivals through the month of December.
The Hoopa boys have won more games than any of the Little 4 teams this season (11) and have grown in stature as the season has progressed with 10 wins in their last 11 games.
Rounding out the field are the Ferndale Wildcats, who will be eager to show they belong, and they also have shown plenty of improvement since they began their season.
After opening the season with five straight losses, the Cats have since won four of their last six games and will be fired up for their conference opener at St. Bernard’s.
Also on Friday night, South Fork travels to Hoopa.
Let us know who you think will win this year’s conference in our readers poll and we’ll publish the results before the Little 4 tips off.
Readers can vote up to once a day.
Categories: Basketball, Ferndale, Hoopa Valley, South Fork, St. Bernard's
