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Playing without one of their most influential players, the Ferndale Wildcats saw their hopes of a NorCal championship in girls basketball end in overtime on Wednesday night.

The Cats, who are seeded No. 1 in the eight-team Division-6 NorCal bracket, welcomed No. 8 Fall River to Ferndale and lost a game they led for much of the night by a score of 55-52.

A clutch 3-pointer by the visitors with just seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter would force overtime and they would break a late tie in the extra period with another huge 3 with just 27 seconds remaining.

Led by dynamic junior Michaela Ellsmore, the Wildcats came to play and scored 33 first-half points to lead by nine at the break.

Ellsmore, who had a game-high 29 points, hit nine 3-pointers in the loss, including seven in the opening half.

With fellow junior Tinnley Pidgeon missing because an injury she picked up late in Saturday’s North Coast Section championship game, however, the Cats offense cooled in the second half and they were held to just 12 points for the third and fourth quarters combined.

The visitors, meanwhile, found their touch from downtown late in the game, with four of their six 3-pointers coming in the final five minutes of the game.

“Overall, I thought we played well,” head coach Chris Ardrey said. “We just turned the ball over way too many times at the end.

“I love my team, but you can’t replace a Tinnley.”

In her absence, Ellsmore and Clara Albee did their best to pick up the slack, with Ellsmore in particular inspiring her teammates, especially in the first half.

“With Tinnley out, I think she tried to take on a two-person role, and she damn near did it,” Ardrey said of Ellsmore.

Submitted photo – The Ferndale football team and Wildcats students showed up in big numbers once again on Wednesday night to support their girls basketball team.

The loss ends a memorable season for the Wildcats, who won the school’s fifth all-time North Coast Section championship in girls basketball this past weekend.

They were the last remaining H-DNL girls team still playing this year and the league’s only girls team to win a section championship.

“Overall, I thought it was a very successful season,” Ardrey said. “ It’s always good to have a chance to play in March.

“(This loss) is going to sting. They tried everything. It just didn’t fall for us. But I’m proud of the girls.”

Madison Gossi, Emily Sauers and Gianna Regli did a good job on the boards for much of the night and gave the home team a strong presence in the paint, freeing up opportunities for Ellsmore and Albee from outside.

Regli also had a good night offensively and finished with 14 points.

Junior Quinn Stokesberry also gave the Cats some valuable minutes off the bench.

With just one starting senior and a junior-heavy roster, however, the Cats should be even better next year.

“I have some great kids,” Ardrey said. “It’s tough (to lose) but that’s basketball. There’s always a winner and always a loser.”