Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — Incredibly, for the second time in a few weeks, a second H-DNL player has surpassed the 50-point mark in a basketball game.

On Saturday night, St. Bernard’s senior Liam Dyer emulated Arcata’s Luke Lemke’s 51-point performance against Fortuna with a 52-point night against Arcata.

And that makes Dyer one of our athletes of the week, for the second time this season.

The Crusaders’ guard has been one of the best shooters in the H-DNL for the past couple of winters and he’s been every bit as impressive this season, helping to lead the best high school team in the area to another impressive campaign.

The win was the 20th of the year for the SB boys, who have lost just twice.

Joining Dyer in our weekly awards this week is a multi-sport Del Norte senior, who has been every bit as impressive off the court this winter as she has been on it.

Bliss Blackburn has been impacting young girls in the area by organizing a North Coast Girls and Women in Sports Day at College of the Redwoods in each of the past two years, with the second annual even held on Wednesday at College of the Redwoods.

This year, sixth through eighth graders from Humboldt and Del Norte counties participated in the day, which highlighted the importance of staying in the game for young girls.

It’s been a big undertaking for Blackburn, who volunteered her time and efforts because it’s something she firmly believes in.

The Del Norte senior is a soon-to-be 12-season letter winner for the Warriors, competing in volleyball, basketball and softball in all four years of her high school career.

And rounding out our weekly awards is a team that made some history this past week.

A 66-40 victory over Fortuna last Thursday secured a first-ever outright Big 5 championship in boys basketball for the McKinleyville Panthers, this week’s team of the week.

If we had a coach of the week award, this week the honor would go to the team’s head coach Chris Davis, who has done a remarkable job at the school in his three years in charge of the program.

In that time, he has led the Panthers to a co-conference championship (2024), a Dick Niclai tournament championship (2025) and now the program’s first-ever outright Big 5 title.

And the Panthers are not done yet.

With the Big 5 title, they have earned a top seed and opening-round bye for the 2026 Dick Diclai tournament, and they’ll tip off the much-anticipated annual event as one of the two favorites to win it all again this year.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Bliss Blackburn

Del Norte, Senior

Blackburn’s efforts this week could go a long way toward influencing young girls in the area for years to come.

The Del Norte senior knows first-hand the many benefits of participating in sports for young girls and how it can have a big impact in a wide range of areas, including fitness benefits, mental health, confidence, body image and grades, while also helping to build leadership skills.

Whatever the future holds for this young Del Norte student-athlete, one thing is for certain — she is already having a sizable impact off the field of competition.

Liam Dyer

St. Bernard’s Basketball, Senior

Dyer was in the zone on Saturday night and enjoyed a career night with his 52-point performance, while helping his team to a big win over a Big 5 opponent.

“Liam was another level tonight,” St. Bernard’s head coach Pat Shanahan said afterwards. “His teammates saw he had a nice rhythm going and kept feeding him. Few of his shots were forced. He was aggressive and effective.”

The SB sharpshooter hit 20 of 31 field goals, made 5 of 11 3-pointers and 7 of 9 free throws.

Not a bad night’s work for one of the best players in the area.

For more on his big week, see Deju vu at Arcata as Dyer explodes for 52 points against the Tigers …

TEAM OF THE WEEK

McKinleyville Boys Basketball

Whatever happens the rest of the way, this year’s McKinleyville boys basketball team has done something no other team in program history managed.

Davis has done a remarkable job in his short time in charge, while establishing the Panthers as one of the best programs in the H-DNL right now, and he has developed some outstanding talent in the process.

There are several players on this year’s team that are enjoying standout campaigns, including a core group of seniors — Ray Turner Jr., Jeremiah Smith, James Fike, Neil Moon, Henry Turner IV, Bode Douglass and Patrick Wilson.

With the league title now secured, the Panthers will turn their attention to next week’s Dick Niclai tournament, as they look to defend the title they won 12 months ago.

For more on their big week, see Panthers make history, secure first-ever outright Big 5 title …