File photo – The Ferndale Wildcats

The Ferndale Wildcats had a point to prove in Tuesday night’s Dick Niclai tournament opener at Hoopa.

After losing to the Warriors in the final week of the Little 4 schedule and being forced to travel for their tournament opener, the Wildcats were fired up for the rematch and came out ready to go.

And it showed in a comfortable 65-40 victory.

“I think we were mad more than anything,” Ferndale head coach Chris Ardrey said afterwards. “We didn’t have to give any rah-rah speeches. We were ready to get after it.”

The victory sends the Cats on to Thursday’s semifinal, where they will face Big 5 champion Arcata at College of the Redwoods.

Tinnley Pidgeon had a big night for the Ferndale girls in the win and scored a game-high 24 points.

But that was just half the story for the standout junior guard, who also led the way at the other end of the floor and set the tone for a big night defensively for her team.

“Overall, the team defense was good from start to end,” Ardrey said.

Pidgeon was instrumental in that, holding outstanding Hoopa senior Ivy Lamebear to just 11 points, well below the 36 points she scored in last week’s win for Hoopa.

Pidgeon wasn’t the only Ferndale player to impress on Tuesday night.

Michaela Ellsmore also had a good game and finished with 15 points, while Gianna Regli and Emily Sauers each chipped in eight points as both continue to make an impact for the team.

The Wildcats came out ready to go and never allowed the Warriors take control like they had last week.

“We started hot and stayed that way the whole game,” Ardrey added.

The Ferndale head coach also paid tribute to Lamebear, a player he has coached against and respected for the last few years and someone who has always presented a challenge for his teams.

No other stats were immediately available for the Warriors.

Thursday’s semifinal against Arcata is set for 6 p.m., with Eureka and St. Bernard’s playing in the. other semifinal at 7:30.

File photo