With just one week to go to their conference opener, the Ferndale Wildcats are competing at the West Valley tournament this weekend.

On Friday night, the Cats opened tournament play against the host school and lost 64-55.

The loss was just the fourth on the season for Ferndale, which dropped to 10-4.

“They played well,” Ferndale head coach Chris Ardrey said of the West Valley girls, who improved to 9-4. “They were hot from outside.”

Foul trouble didn’t help matters for the Wildcats, who played much of the second quarter without influential team captain Madison Gossi.

They also missed 11 of their 18 free-throw attempts for the game, including nine in the fourth quarter alone.

“We were there, but it is what it is,” Ardrey added. “They played better than us. Kudos to them.”

Despite being in foul trouble, Gossi still scored a team-high 15 points as she continues to play a pivotal role for the team in her senior campaign.

Fellow seniors Tinnley Pidgeon and Michaela Ellsmore each added 13 points.

The Wildcats will continue tournament play against Pierce High School on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

After the tournament, the Cats will play a non-conference game at home against Fortuna on Tuesday night, before tipping off the Little 4 next Friday night.

The Ferndale girls open conference play with a pivotal showdown at St. Bernard’s.