Photos by Ray Hamill/HukmboldtSports.com – Michaela Ellsmore in action for the Wildcats on Wednesday night.

By Ray Hamill — Two H-DNL teams remain in the chase for a North Coast Section basketball title as we head towards the weekend championship games.

The Ferndale girls and St. Bernard’s boys will each host section deciders on Saturday night after their impressive semifinal wins on Wednesday.

The Wildcats, who are seeded No. 1 in the Division-6 girls bracket, will welcome No. 2 Cornerstone Christian to the Cream City, while the SB boys, who are also seeded No. 1 in their bracket, will entertain No. 2 St. Vincent de Paul.

Both local teams are looking for a second NCS championship in four seasons, having each won in 2022, the last time any H-DNL school won a section title.

But there’s more than just two section crowns up for grabs.

If the Ferndale girls win, they will match the St. Bernard’s girls’ H-DNL record five all-time NCS titles in the sport, with the Cats’ four previous section championships coming in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2022.

The Crusaders’ most recent NCS win came in 2019 and they also won three straight from 2015 to 2017 as well as one in 1986.

A victory for the Ferndale girls would also break a tie with McKinleyville for second most NCS titles by an H-DNL girls program, with the Panthers’ most recent title coming in 1989 and all four titles achieved in the 1980s.

Fortuna (1978, 1979), Eureka (1989) and South Fork (1995) round out the league’s 17 girls all-time NCS championships.

The St. Bernard’s boys, meanwhile, will be looking to add to their H-DNL record haul of five section crowns.

In addition to the trophy they won in 2022, the Crusaders also were section champs in 2015 and 2009 and all the way back in 1975 and 1977, giving them one more than both Hoopa and Ferndale.

The Wildcats were crowned section champs in 2020 and three straight times from 2010 to 2012, while Hoopa took home titles in 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2003.

South Fork (1990), Arcata (1997) and Del Norte (2002) round out the H-DNL’s 16 all-time boys section wins.

Both of Saturday’s games are set for 7 p.m.

The St. Bernard’s Crusaders will host St. Vincent de Paul on Saturday night.