Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Wednesday night’s game at Ferndale.

The Ferndale girls’ resilience was tested on Wednesday night and they passed with flying colors.

Playing their first game in almost two weeks, it took the Wildcats a while to get going in their North Coast Section Division-6 semifinal against St. Vincent de Paul at Ferndale High.

They trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but rallied to win 33-28 to advance to this weekend’s section championship game.

The No. 1 seeds will host No. 2 Cornerstone Christian on Saturday night at 7, giving them a chance at winning their second NCS title in four years.

“The layoff killed us,” said Ferndale head coach Chris Ardrey, whose team was playing its first playoff game after getting a first-round bye and a forfeit win in the quarterfinal. “There is nothing like game experience.”

The Cats’ defense did a good job early in the game, but offensively they managed just two points form play in the opening quarter and trailed 9-5 going into the second.

They would cut the deficit to one by halftime, but the Mustangs enjoyed the better of exchanges early in the second half and stretched the advantage back out to eight before the home team’s big finish.

“We fought through it,” Ardrey said of the sluggish start. “We found a way, and we played a better second half. We stepped it up.”

Once again guards Michaela Ellsmore and Tinnley Pidgeon were hugely influential for the Wildcats.

Ellsmore finished with a team-high 13 points while Pidgeon led the way defensively with another big performance on that side of the ball.

“I though Tinnley Pidgeon did a great job guarding their best player,” Ardrey said.

Gianna Regli and Emily Sauers each also impressed in the win, battling hard in the paint.

Regli finshed with seven points, while Sauers and Pidgeon each chipped in six points.

“I’m proud of the girls,” Ardrey said.

The Cornerstone Christian girls, who are seeded No. 2 in the bracket, defeated Round Valley 71-42 in the other semifinal.

Win or lose on Saturday, the Wildcats will advance to next week’s NorCal playoffs, with the brackets set to be announced on Sunday.