Ferndale High Girls Basketball Team Shines in West Coast Jamboree

Ferndale High’s girls basketball team had a strong showing at the West Coast Jamboree tournament in Livermore, making a solid run toward their bracket championship. The Wildcats showcased a formidable defense in their first two games, but ultimately fell to Maria Carillo in the final match of the tournament in a closely contested game.

The team started their tournament with a 46-40 victory over St. Vincent de Paul on Saturday. Tinnley Pidgeon led the way with 18 points, while Madison Gossi contributed 16. Head coach Chris Ardrey credited the win to the team’s defensive efforts, stating, “Defense, for sure. It was a battle, but overall, we got it done, and the defense definitely helped in the first two games.”

In their second game against Pacheco on Monday, Ferndale secured a 33-27 win, with Gossi scoring 13 points and Michaela Ellsmore adding seven. Ardrey highlighted the team’s resilience, noting that the referees’ behavior during the game was an issue. He remarked, “The refs held their whistles, and it’s never a good sign when you see them hugging the other coach before the game starts.”

The championship game against Maria Carillo was intense, with the official warning Ardrey that the game would be physical. During the contest, the referee seemed upset when Ferndale’s player, who was shorter than her opponent, was called for a foul. Ardrey reflected, “It makes me appreciate the Humboldt refs that much more.”

Maria Carillo had 27 free throw attempts compared to Ferndale’s nine. Despite the challenges, Ardrey praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We were down seven going into the fourth, and we had our chances to win in regulation against a D-II squad that was bigger and longer.” Ellsmore scored 22 points, while Pidgeon and Gossi each added 10. Ellsmore was named player of the game, and Pidgeon and Gossi earned all-tourney honors. Gianna Regli also stood out by battling against Maria Carillo’s 6’2” player, finishing with eight points.

Looking ahead, the Wildcats will compete in the West Valley Tournament in Redding starting Friday. They will also host Fortuna on January 6 and open their conference season against St. Bernard’s on January 9. Ardrey described the upcoming matchups as challenging, especially against Fortuna, which has been performing well.

Eureka High Boys Basketball Team Secures Third Place in Enterprise Tournament

Eureka High’s boys basketball team also had a successful week, finishing third in the Enterprise Tournament. The team went 2-1 in their recent action, defeating West Valley 72-41, losing to University Prep 83-65, and then beating Weed 45-37 in the third-place game.

Owen Hiscox led the team with 23 points and seven three-pointers in the opening game, while Xavier De la Rosa Alcantara and Eddy Gonzalez each scored 10 and 11 points respectively. Ryder Mitchell was named an all-tourney selection, tallying eight points. Coach Jimmy Rodgers praised the team’s strong start, noting, “We came out pretty strong. We went on a 26-10 run in the second quarter, and out of halftime we outscored them 19-10.”

In the second game against University Prep, the team showed resilience despite the loss. Alcantara scored 20 points, while Brayden Burmers added three threes and 14 points. Mitchell recorded a double-double and potentially a triple-double, earning all-tourney honors with 13 points. Rodgers acknowledged the challenge posed by University Prep, stating, “U-Prep is a good team, and they shot the ball well. We handled their size pretty well, but every time we’d score, they’d score, and every time we turned the ball over, they’d score.”

Against Weed, Eureka’s defense shone, holding the team’s top scorer to just five points. Alcantara played a key role in shutting down the opponent, while the bench provided valuable contributions from Dominic Hardcastle and Brayden Burmers. Hiscox led the team with four three-pointers and 14 points in the final game.

Rodgers concluded the week with a positive outlook, saying, “It was a total team effort, and it was a successful week.” He also mentioned the upcoming schedule, including a game at South Fork on Friday and a league opener against McKinleyville on Tuesday. He noted, “It’s anybody’s game on any given night, and it’s even across the board.”

Upcoming Matches and Outlook

Eureka’s boys team will continue their season with a game at South Fork on Friday night and a conference opener against McKinleyville on Tuesday. Rodgers emphasized the competitiveness of the league, mentioning that Crescent City and Fortuna are among the local teams they have yet to face.

As both Ferndale and Eureka continue their seasons, the focus remains on building momentum and preparing for the challenges ahead. With strong performances in recent tournaments, both programs are setting the stage for a competitive upcoming season.