Submitted photo – The Arcata players celebrate this championship at practice on Wednesday.

By Ray Hamill — One day after winning the Big 5 championship with a victory over their closest challengers, the Arcata Tigers got some good news.

On Tuesday night, they traveled to play rival McKinleyville in the conference decider and won the game 56-47, clinching the title outright with a game to spare.

However, late in the game starting guard Dawson Vallerga was injured, which dampened the celebrations.

The senior standout has established himself as a key member of this year’s championship team and at first the injury appeared to be serious.

Fortunately, however, the injury does not appear as bad as first feared and Arcata head coach Kellen Maynard has described Vallerga as day to day.

Vallerga was on hand at practice on Wednesday, although he did not participate, and the Tigers received their championship pennant and got to celebrate their accomplishment.

The senior guard was sidelined for his team’s final regular season game at Eureka High on Thursday, a game the Tigers won to close out a perfect conference campaign.

Maynard is hoping Vallerga will return to the court sometime in the playoffs, which officially get under way for the team on Wednesday.

He described the prognosis as “best case scenario.”

“Now just have to see how he progresses,” Maynard told Humboldt Sports after Wednesday’;s practice. “He was in good spirits today, so it helped for sure.”

As conference champs, the Tigers will receive a top seed and opening-round bye for next week’s Dick Niclai tournament.

They open in the semifinal round on Wednesday night against the winner of the Little 4 Nos. 2 vs. 3 game, which will be played on Monday.

The tournament championship game will take place at Lumberjack Arena next Friday night.

The North Coast Section playoffs tip off the following week and as conference champs the Tigers should receive a first-round home game.

Dawson Vallerga in action for the Tigers this season.