Panthers earn tourney title
McKinleyville closes out Enterprise Redding Tournament with a victory over host team
Panthers get impressive win against Hornets
The McKinleyville Panthers closed 2022 with yet another impressive win on Thursday after beating host Enterprise 46-40 to close out the Enterprise Redding Tournament. The win improves the Panthers to 13-3, the clear top team heading into league play. But more importantly, it’s a very impressive win over a perennially strong program to close out the calendar year.
The victory, the team’s second over Enterprise this year, is a benchmark for where the Panthers stand this season as well as their outlook for the postseason. Enterprise was very nearly a section champion last season, losing in the final to eventual state champion Pleasant Valley. The Hornets were also a No. 1 seed in the CIF Division 4 state playoffs last season before being upset by Justin-Siena. Ironically, both McKinleyville and Enterprise had their seasons ended by Justin-Siena last year.
The win also comes on the heels of a victory over University Prep, a No. 2 seed in the state playoffs last year. And adding to the strength of the win is that McKinleyville won those games on back-to-back nights in what was essentially home games for both of their opponents.
Still, it’s reasonable to point out that Enterprise has certainly regressed a bit this season. The Hornets are 9-6 on the year, and most of the wins came against lower-level competition. The fact McKinleyville was able to beat both teams on the road is a good sign for the Panthers’ postseason chances. But first, the team will have to win the Big 5 league. The Panthers will begin the league season on Wednesday
Fortuna falls to Vacaville in Dixon tourney
The Huskies were unable to close out the Dixon Ram Jam tournament with a win on Friday, losing to Vacaville 60-40. It’s a tough way to close out 2022, but Fortuna has had an impressive run to open the season. At 10-5, the Huskies have already matched their win total from last season.
Unfortunately, the loss to Vacaville isn’t a huge surprise. But it’s also not a huge setback considering Fortuna was certainly no favorite heading into the matchup with a CIF Division II program that had gone 18-8 the previous year. The youthful Huskies have struggled in their games against top-level competition, but the experience should be beneficial to the team moving forward.
Fortuna will open league play against Arcata on Wednesday.
Arcata bounces back to close 2022 with win
The Tigers have had a rough stretch over the past few weeks, but we’re able to secure the 76-69 win over Miramonte on Thursday at a tournament hosted by Marin Catholic. Prior to that victory, the Tigers had lost four of their last six games.
The win is certainly an impressive showing for a team that has not been shy about their ambition given the level of competition in non-league play. Although their record is 5-8 this year, Miramonte was a 4-seed in the CIF Division I state playoffs last season after going 24-7. But the Matadors were upset in the first round of the tournament in overtime. Still, the victory against higherlevel competition is a big positive for a team that has otherwise struggled to impress against elite competition. Arcata suffered double-digit losses to CardinalNewman
and defending state champ Pleasant Valley earlier in the year. Prior to the game against Miramonte, they lost to the 4-8 host Marin Catholic.
Although the Tigers’ record is a humble 7-5, they have undoubtedly played the toughest schedule of any Big 5 team so far this season. But two of those losses came against HDNL rivals Fortuna and McKinleyville, the two teams ahead of Arcata in the league standings. It’s clear that the Tigers will have to step their game up if they’re going to compete for a league title.
Eureka girls outmatched by Alemany at jamboree
The impressive Loggers had the unfortunate luck of closing 2022 with a matchup against one of the best teams in Los Angeles on Friday, falling to Alemany 60-35. Still, Eureka stands at 11-4 heading into league play and is the clear-cut favorite to win the Big 5.
While a 25-point loss is always deflating, the game means very little given the considerable difference in levels between the two programs. Alemany, a school in Mission Hills, is a CIF Division I powerhouse that went 17-4 last season. The Warriors are once again looking strong, sitting at 10-5 so far this season. And prior to the game against Alemany, Eureka had an outstanding performance against Roosevelt, a CIF Division II program with an 11-4 record this year. That victory was key for the Loggers, since most of the wins prior to that had come against lower-level competition.
Eureka is the surefire favorite to win their league this year, but the Loggers have higher ambitions than that and have demonstrated they’re capable of meeting those goals. After ending last year’s season with a disappointing firstround exit in the section playoffs, Eureka is exhibiting their motivation and desire to prove themselves as a postseason contender.