Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Arcata Kyla Kinyon in action against Eureka this week.
By Ray Hamill — The Arcata girls are at least co-champions of the Big 5 with three games remaining.
On Friday night, the Tigers pulled away late on the way to beating Del Norte 72-53, and 24 hours later they were crowned champs in bizarre circumstances.
On Saturday, the Eureka Loggers found out they had to forfeit two wins from early January after they had inadvertently fielded an ineligible player in wins over Timberline and McKinleyville, the latter in the Big 5.
The player in question had been ejected in a tournament game and had sat out one game on suspension when the team was supposed to hold her out for three.
It occurred over the Christmas break, and, according to head coach Cliff Napoleon, there was no one to confirm the length of the suspension with at the North Coast Section offices.
The forfeits dropped the Loggers’ record to 2-3 in the Big 5 (13-8 overall) and moves them into a three-way tie with Del Norte and McKinleyville in the conference standings.
That leaves the Tigers (5-0) three wins clear of the chasing pack in the Big 5 with three games remaining and guarantees them at least a share of this year’s championship.
They can clinch the title outright with at least one win in their final three games against Fortuna, McKinleyville and Eureka.
The conference championship is their second straight after winning it outright with an undefeated campaign last year.
It also means the McKinleyville Panthers suddenly find themselves in a much better position than they were in 24 hours earlier.
The Mack girls went into a Friday night showdown against Eureka with a record of 0-4, but a 56-54 overtime win over the Loggers, coupled with the forfeit victory, means they are now 2-3 in conference play and tied with rivals Del Norte and Eureka.
It also sets up what should be an exciting four-horse race for the Big 5’s final two Dick Niclai tournament berths, along with the Fortuna Huskies, who are 1-3 in conference play and have a game in hand.
Conference play continues on Tuesday night, when McKinleyville travels to Del Norte and Fortuna plays at Arcata.
Categories: Arcata, Basketball, Del Norte, Eureka, Fortuna, McKinleyville
I find it really hard to believe that coach Napoleon had no idea what the real suspension time was for his player. It’s posted on the NCS Website and its also the responsibility of the A.D. to know that information. How about reach out to your league director Mr. Lakin. He could have easily told you the suspension length for an ejection. Not knowing is nothing but negligence on the Administration at Eureka High School. It’s the same suspension for every sport. Shame on you!!!