Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — It was a good week for the H-DNL in North Coast Section basketball and state wrestling, and that’s reflected in this week’s weekly awards.

For the second time in four seasons, a pair of Little 4 teams were crowned North Coast Section champions in basketball.

The Ferndale girls won a hard-fought and close matchup in their Division-6 final against Cornerstone Christian on Saturday night by a score of 53-51 and claimed their fifth section crown in 13 seasons.

The St. Bernard’s boys were equally impressive in their Division-6 final, cruising to a relatively easy 56-39 over St. Vincent de Paul, also on Saturday night.

It was the second NCS championship in four seasons for both teams.

And all of that makes them this week’s Humboldt Sports Teams of the Week.

And that’s not all for the Ferndale girls.

They may have lost their NorCal opener on Wednesday night, but junior guard Michaela Ellsmore was outstanding in that game, earning her the nod for one of our athletes of the week.

Ellsmore, who was one of the consistent and impressive players in the Little 4 all winter, finished with 29 points in the state playoff loss, including nine 3-pointers.

The standout junior helped keep her team in contention throughout the night and capped a big season with one of her best performances.

Our second athlete-of-the-week nod goes to Del Norte senior Colton Schaad.

The Warriors standout closed out his high school career on the wrestling mats with a big performance at last weekend’s state championships, going further in the tournament than any other Del Norte grappler in 15 years and finishing in the top-16.

For good measure, Schaad also received a prestigious CIF Pursuing Victory with Honor medal.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Michaela Ellsmore

Ferndale Girls Basketball, Junior

Ellsmore capped an impressive season on the basketball court with a huge performance against Fall River on Wednesday night.

After scoring 13 points in Saturday’s NCS final, the outstanding guard helped her team pick up the slack in the absence of fellow guard Tinnley Pidgeon, who missed Wednesday’s game because of injury.

She hit seven 3s in the opening half to set the tone and the Fall River girls had no answer for her.

For more on her big week, see Short-handed Ferndale go down battling in overtime …

Submitted photo – Colton Schaad, second from left, at last week’s state championships

Colton Schaad

Del Norte Wrestling, Senior

One week after placing third at the NCS championships, the impressive Schaad closed out his high school career with one of the best performances of his career at last weekend’s state championships.

The senior standout was one of three Del Norte wrestlers to qualify for the biggest high school tournament in the nation — along with NCS champs Curtis Bartley and Remington Escobedo, who were last week’s athletes of the week — and he went 3-2 over the opening two days before bowing out.

Schaad will now take his talents to the college mats, with a decision on his future expected in the coming weeks.

For more on his big week, see All three Warriors leave their mark at CIF state championships …

Submitted photo

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Ferndale Girls Basketball

St. Bernard’s Boys Basketball 

For the second time in four seasons, the Ferndale girls and St. Bernard’s boys are NCS champions in basketball.

SB head coach Issac Gildea and his staff have done another outstanding job this year, leading a group of young players — there are no seniors on the roster — to one of the biggest championships an H-DNL team can achieve for the second time in four years.

Perhaps what’s most impressive about this team, and a testament to the job the coaches have done, is how many different players have made big contributions this season.

The dynamic Liam Dyer, who leads the team in scoring just about every night, has been outstanding all year, while players like Prince Latimer, Garrett Shanahan and Carson Costa, among many others, have all played huge roles.

Likewise with the Ferndale girls.

Their season may have ended on Wednesday night, but the Wildcats have every reason to feel proud of their accomplishments this winter.

Head coach Chris Ardrey has done an outstanding job in his two years in charge of the team and has gotten the best out of the roster, with players like Ellsmore, Pidgeon, Madison Gossi, Emily Sauers, Gianna Regli and Clara Albee, among others, all impressing in their big playoff run.

And like the Crusaders, this is a young roster, with just one starting senior, so they should be even better next winter.

For more on the Crusaders’ big week, see Crusaders win D-6 NCS title with complete team performance …

For more on the Wildcats’ big week, see Wildcats hold on late, edge the Cougars to secure fifth NCS crown …