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A short-handed Eureka girls team kept the pressure on the Big 5 leaders with a crucial win at Del Norte on Friday night, a victory that keeps the Loggers’ championship hopes alive.

Eureka traveled to Crescent City with just seven players as sickness has taken a toll on the roster this week, but won the game 65-40 to improve to 5-1 in conference play with two games remaining.

The Loggers trail Big 5 leaders Arcata (6-0) by one game, but the two schools will play each other at Arcata High next Friday in a showdown that will likely be for the championship.

Arcata, which had a bye on Friday, hosts McKinleyville on Wednesday, while Eureka hosts Fortuna on the same night.

With sickness prevalent at Eureka High this week, the Loggers freshmen team had only four players available and was unable to play, while varsity head coach Cliff Napoleon had to call up two JV players for his game.

Senior Samara Gaither had a big night in the win on her way to a game-high 30 points, and she was hugely influential in a big third quarter that saw the visitors take control.

“Proud of the way Sam played tonight,” Napoleon said. “When we were low on numbers, Sam stepped up her game and showed why she’s one of the best players in the HDN.”

The Loggers led by just seven at halftime and the game was still in the balance.

Sophomore Tiara Maualuga also had a big night for the Loggers and scored 15 points, as Eureka improved to 16-3 overall.

With several players contributing, Napoleon described it as a “great team win.”

Madelyn Fazio chipped in eight points for Eureka, while senior team leader Mallorie Beauchamp “did a great job running the offense,” according to her coach.

Peyton Graney, who was called up from the JVs for the game, also stepped up and gave the Loggers some big minutes on defense.

“She was a rock on the back side with our depleted front line,” Napoleon said. “She did great for us.”

Brooklyn Carter scored a team-high 18 points for the Warriors and surpassed 1,000 career points.

“She has had an excellent career and battled through adversity” Del Norte head coach Dylan Nelson said of the senior standout who reached the career milestone despite missing most of her junior year through injury. “Looking forward to a bright future for her.”

The game was competitive for much of the night, as the Del Norte girls continue to battle despite their struggles in conference play.

“We gave them a game for the first half,” Nelson said. “Fought hard. Just didn’t have enough in the end.

“Credit to coach Napoleon, who is a class act and (Eureka is) an excellent team.”

With the loss, the Warriors dropped to 1-6 in the Big 5 and 13-12 overall.

In the other Big 5 girls game on Friday night, the McKinleyville Panthers celebrated their seniors before securing the conference’s third and final Dick Niclai tournament berth with a 36-32 win over Fortuna.

The victory lifted the Panthers to 4-3 in the Big 5 with one game remaining (17-8 overall), while Fortuna dropped to 0-6 and 13-11.

The Panthers were also battling sickness and had only seven players available.

“We started out slow, but I thought we settled in nicely as the game progressed,” McKinleyville head coach Jacob Cheek said. “Couldn’t be happier with how those seven came to play tonight.”

The McKinleyville seniors, all of whom have had a big impact on the program, include MaryAnn Som, Bailee Box, Tatum Fisher, Gabby Watson and Sarah McCray, and all of them have been playing for Cheek for the past six seasons.

“I coached these five in seventh grade so it’s pretty surreal to be able to see them finish out as seniors,” Cheek said. “I’ll truly miss this group when they’re gone.”

Several of the seniors had a big say in Friday’s win, including Watson, who scored a team-high 13 points.

Fisher added nine points, while Som chipped in seven points and Box added three.

Freshman Lily Battilocchi also had four points in the win.

“I was happy to go out with a win and celebrate our seniors,” Cheek added. “They mean so much to this school, this basketball program, and everyone that surrounds them.”

The Huskies, meanwhile, continue to battle and play most of their Big 5 opponents tough.

Mariah Bravo had a big night for the visitors and scored a game-high 17 points, while teammate Kalie Chittenden chipped in seven points.