Eureka was the best team in the Humboldt-Del Norte League all season, they just had to prove it once more on Friday night. The Loggers did exactly that with a dominant performance on the defensive end, cruising past the Del Norte Warriors 43-26 to win their third consecutive championship in the Dick Niclai tournament.

“The girls played an excellent game all the way around,” said Eureka coach Cliff Napoleon. “You kind of expect that with a group of seniors like I have. And all the right plays were made, it was just fun to see.”

With both teams seemingly battling the nerves of the big moment at Lumberjack Arena, the Loggers utilized their defensive prowess to stifle the Warriors offense. Eureka held Del Norte to just 10 second-half points as they were grinding out the victory. It was also a revenge game for the Loggers after Del Norte had spoiled their undefeated run in the Big 5 when the Warriors beat Eureka 70-60 on Jan. 25.

“They just did a great job on defense, I mean everyone,” said Napoleon. “That’s what fuels us. We can get out in transition. We can run our offense. Things like that starts with our defense.”

That defense was the key that guided the Loggers as both teams struggled offensively in the first half. Del Norte got out to an early 5-0 lead, but Eureka stormed back with an 8-0 run as both teams settled into a back-and-forth battle. Eureka laid the foundation of their defensive effort by pressing early and often, disrupting passing lanes and forcing loose balls. At the end of the first quarter, Eureka held an 8-6 lead.

The raucous crowd in Lumberjack Arena also established an early displeasure with the officiating, resulting in an ejection of a Eureka student early in the second quarter.

Del Norte point guard Lili Nunez was key to the Warriors’ ability to break the press by Eureka in the first half, zipping past defenders with her sublime ball handling and speed. The two teams traded buckets throughout the second period, but Eureka forward Isis Poteet was able to draw a late foul with just 2.6 seconds remaining. Poteet hit both free throws to give Eureka an 18-16 lead at halftime.

Eureka’s offense got on track quickly in the second half, opening the third quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 28-16 lead. Del Norte ended the run with a 3-pointer from Brooklyn Carter, but the offense remained stagnant the rest of the quarter as those would be the team’s only three points in the period. Eureka’s Kaitlin Giacone had a buzzer-beating layup to give Eureka a 32-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Loggers got out to another hot start in the final period, going on a 7-0 run to open the quarter. That opening run ultimately sealed the victory as the Eureka defense continued to get stronger as the game went along. The Loggers adjusted their approach to contain the speed of Nunez and forced repeated turnovers. With the score 39-19, Del Norte made a slight push midway through the fourth to cut into the lead, but the Warriors simply couldn’t generate consistent offense. Eureka bled out the clock in the final minutes to close out the victory.

The margin of victory could’ve been even larger if Eureka had converted more of their opportunities at the free throw line, but still won by 17. It was an even performance across the board for Eureka, with Poteet and Giacone leading the way with 10 points each. Carter’s outside shooting was the primary source of offense for Del Norte as she finished with 15 points.

“It’s hard to game plan against us, ‘cause we could have a leading scorer that’s different every game,” said Napoleon of his team. “The team rallied around each other. It was great to see tonight.”

The Loggers will now try to carry this momentum into the North Coast Section playoffs. In a highly competitive Division III field, Eureka has established itself as one of the top contenders with a record of 24-5. But Marin Catholic, San Marin, and Cardinal-Newman are the dominant teams and it will be a tall task to upset any one of them.

But for now, Eureka is enjoying the moment as a program that has grown accustomed to celebrating the end of the Niclai tournament.

Jake Matson can be reached at 707-441-0526.