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By Ray Hamill — It was another busy weekend on the basketball courts for the local contingent of varsity teams, and it was a impressive few days for one team and for one senior standout in particular

And they feature in our weekly awards this week.

The St. Bernard’s girls have hit the ground running and look like they will be the team to beat in the Little 4 this winter after a big performance at the Kelseyville tournament, including a statement win.

The Crusaders are quickly beginning to build momentum and won all three of their games on the way to the tournament championship.

Head coach Matt Tomlin’s team answered the call after losing in tournament finals on each of the two previous weekends, comfortably talking of business against the tournament hosts in the final and winning 67-35.

But it was a 63-40 win over Little 4 rival Ferndale in Friday’s semifinal that really set the tone for the weekend, as the SB girls posted a statement victory over a Wildcats team that has looked good early in the new season and is expected to be the Crusaders’ biggest challenger for this year’s conference championships.

If that early-season matchup is any indication, St. Bernard’s looks like the team to beat when conference play tips off in the new year.

Sophomore Carli Baum was instrumental in the tournament championship and was named tourney MVP, but she was far from the only standout on a team that appears to have plenty of depth and can attack opponents in a variety of ways.

And that makes the SB girls our team of the week.

The South Fork boys basketball team also enjoyed an impressive weekend on the way to winning their own Gene Cotter memorial tournament in Miranda.

After a slow start to the new season, the Cubs are beginning to build some momentum and have now won six of their last seven games under new head coach Jacob Trotter, including four straight last week.

Several players stepped up for the team, none more so than senior Shawn Schmidt, who was named tournament MVP.

Schmidt has also hit the ground running this season and enjoyed a career night in the tournament opener, a 74-66 win over Upper Lake.

The senior team captain posted a very impressive double-double in that win, finishing with 37 points and 15 rebounds.

And that makes him our athlete of the week.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Shawn Schmidt 

South Fork Basketball, Senior

Schmidt was expected to be one of the Cubs’ team leaders this year and thus far he has not disappointed.

In addition to his incredible performance against Upper Lake, Schmidt continued to excel at both ends of the floor in his team’s other two tournament games, including a 59-48 win over Willits in Saturday’s championship game.

Schmidt scored 17 more points in the final and earned the respect of his head coach and opponents for his tournament performance.

For more on his big week, see our Saturday night boys basketball roundup …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

St. Bernard’s Girls Basketball

In addition to Baum’s big weekend, her teammate Samantha Sundberg also continued to impress for the Crusaders and was named to the all-tournament team.

The tourney title was particularly gratifying for Tomlin and his player after they had lost tournament championship games on each of the previous two weekends.

The victory over Ferndale in Friday bights semifinal was a statement win and will give a young SB team plenty of confidence heading into conference play in the new year.

This is a squad that features just two seniors — Alyssa Boham and Kayla Maples — and is not expected to peak until 2026/27, but it’s a group of players that have plenty of depth and talent, have now won five of their last six games and are coming together nicely under the guidance of Tomlin.

For more on their big week, see Baum shines as St. Bernard’s girls win Kelseyville tournament …