They had to wait a week longer than originally anticipated, but the St. Bernard’s girls got the new basketball season off to a winning start on Saturday.

In a game pushed back a week, the Crusaders traveled to Fort Bragg on Saturday and came away with a comprehensive 49-33 win.

Team defense led the way, as the SB girls posted a key victory over a Division-IV team. After winning a third NCS in four years last season, the Crusaders will move up to Division IV this winter.

The Crusaders outscored the Timberwolves in all four quarters, holding them to single digits in each of the opening three periods.

“I was especially impressed with our team defense,” head coach Mark Gardner said. “All of the girls played really hard.”

Shelby Jordan led the way offensively, scoring 14 points, while freshman Lele Tanuvasa added 11 points in her SB debut, just days after being named Little 5 MVP in volleyball.

Pisa Fonoti scored nine and Josie Peterson six.

Next up, the 1-0 Crusaders will travel to the Marin Academy tournament, opening on Thursday against Drew.

Eureka girls 63, Novato 38

The Loggers got a balanced performance offensively with 10 of their 12 players scoring in a dominating win at Novato on Saturday.

Bella Vigil led the way offensively with a team-high 13 points, while Carly Boynton added nine.

Malia Guilbert, Kellina Pratton and Keylei Carroll each also scored eight points in the win.

With the victory, the Eureka girls improved to 2-1 on the season.

BOYS

Arcata 50, Alumni 57

The Tigers held their annual alumni game on Friday night, with the former players posting a seven-point win.

Andy Beronilla led the way for the alumni with 18 points, while Latrell Wilson had 11 and Andrew DeHart 10.

Arcata’s Marcus Bensen continued his impressive start to the young season with 10 points in the loss, while teammates Niko Zambas and Brandon Bento-Jackson each finished with nine points.

Bento-Jackson, a freshman who is having an immediate impact in his first season playing at the high school level, drained three 3-pointers.

Jacob Stoker also had a good game for the Tigers, finishing with seven points.

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.