Lauryn Lesina scored a season-high 27 points as the Del Norte High girls basketball team defeated Ferndale on the road 43-24 Tuesday night.

Lexie Nelson added 6 points and Paula Rhodes 4 points.

“We came out with a lot of energy,” said assistant coach Greg Yeager. “It was a stellar team effort.”

The Warriors caught Ferndale off-guard by playing a 3-2 zone, and “our defense is what won it for us,” Yeager said.

The victory was the second straight for the Warriors, who defeated Myrtle Point 33-31 Saturday in a tournament at Myrtle Point, Ore.

In that contest, Lesina scored 13 points, Nelson 12, and Gabbie Zepeda had 6.

The back-and-forth game came down to “hitting free throws,” Yeager said.

Del Norte is now 8-4 for the season, and does not play again until Jan. 4 at Hoopa.

Up by two at end of first quarter, Warriors lose to Pinole Valley by 18

Senior Chris Scott of the Del Norte High boys varsity basketball team goes inside looking for a bucket in a game agaisnt Pinole Valley Friday night. For more photos from the game go to triplicate.com/photos. (The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal)

CRESCENT CITY — Playing a good Bay Area school from a tough conference in Pinole Valley did not intimidate the Warriors to start things off Friday night.

In front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the third day of the 2009 Del Norte Rotary Classic, the Del Norte High varsity boys basketball squad came out fired up and took a quick 6-2 lead.

The Spartans, a Division II school that plays in the Alameda Contra Costa League, got back in the game and trailed 16-14 the end of the quarter.

Wyatt Hegnes of Del Norte High goes down the court pursued by Julian McCovey of Hoopa during the second day of the 2009 Del Norte Rotary Classic on Thursday. Del Norte won the game 67-53. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

A well- balanced attack helped the Del Norte High Warrior boys varsity basketball team to a 67-53 victory over the Hoopa Warriors during the second night of the 2009 Del Norte Rotary Classic on Thursday.

Up by as much as 20 points, Del Norte let Hoopa get things to single digits in the final quarter but were able to come away with the 14-point win thanks to a three-pointer by Nick McBride near the end of the game. 

Senior Scottie Skeen lead  Del Norte scorers with 11 points, including three three-pointers. McBride finished with 10 points.

Chris Scott, Brandon Kak­itsuka and Zach Hegel­meyer each had seven points while Josh McGathy had six points and Barrett McClafin also had six points on two three-pointers.

Travis Stacey had five points and Michael Johnson four points. Wyatt Hegnes finished with three points and Layton O’Reilley finished with one point.

Del Norte High head coach Scott Alexander said having so many players score and contribute was nice to see, and he hopes this can continue throughout the season.

“We were happy to get the win,” Alexander said. “We never let them get closer than nine points.”

Junior point guard Layton O’Reilley of the Del Norte High boys varsity basketball team dribbles the ball down the court against Marshfield of Coos Bay, Ore., at home Wednesday night. The Warriors fell to the Pirates 62-53. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

The Warriors found themselves down 10-0 to start the game against the Marshfield Pirates of Coos Bay, Ore.,  during the first day of the 10th annual 2009 Del Norte Rotary Classic.

While they were able to keep things close in spurts the rest of the way they still ended up falling 62-53 to the Pirates.

“You’re always battling back  when you get down like that,” Warrior head coach Scott Alexander said.  Another key factor was turnovers, with Del Norte giving up the ball 16 times, Alexander said.

By the end of the first quarter the Warriors were down 12-4.

In the second quarter Del Norte started to show signs of life in front of the home fans, who came out for the first home game  of the year, and got the score down to 17-16. By the end of the half Del Norte found themselves down only 23-22 to the Pirates.

Seniors Nate Bruder, Warren Bailey, Jordan Dutton and Greg Kirby received first team White Star honors for the Warriors.

Del No­rte finished the Big 4 season 2-4 and were 3-6 overall.

Honorable mention honors for Del Norte went to Christian Alexandre, Josh Craft, Kyle Eggen and Roy Ward.

The Big 4 offensive MVP went to senior running back Soma Vainuku of Eureka. He finished the year with more than 2,000 yards and 38 touchdowns. The Loggers won the Northcoast Section Division II Championship last Friday.

Fortuna senior TJ Rice was named Big 4 defensive player for the year at linebacker.

Members of the Del Norte High Warriors boys varsity basketball team practice shooting free throws during practice on Monday. Today, Del Norte faces Marshfield of Coos Bay, Ore., at home at 7 p.m. in the 2009 Del Norte Rotary Classic. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

The Warriors host the 10th annual 2009 Del Norte Rotary Classic and face Marshfield of Coos Bay, Ore., in their first home game of the season starting at 7 p.m. tonight at Thunen Gym.

“We’re excited to play at home and have the crowd behind us,” Warrior head coach Scott Alexander said.

Senior post player Chris Scott said that he and the rest of the team can’t wait to step onto their home court tonight.

“I love it,” he said. “I love the home crowd cheering for you. It pumps you up.”

On Thursday Del Norte faces Hoopa and on Friday they will face Pinole Valley of the Bay Area. Both games are at 7 p.m.

Alexander said that all three teams they will face are good programs, which means no easy games for his 2-3 squad.

It was not a good night on the hardwood for the Del Norte High girls varsity basketball team.

The Warriors lost to Brookings-Harbor on the road 53-41 Tuesday night to drop to 6-3 for the year.

Del Norte  was coming off a three-game winning streak, which included winning the title at a tournament in Mount Sha­s­ta this past Saturday. The Warriors downed host team Mount Shasta 41-39.

“It was like they came out nonchalant,” head coach Buzz McCulloch said about how  his team looked on Tuesday night. “I don’t think they showed up to play tonight. They were flat ... I was disappointed.”

In the first quarter the Bruins raced out to a 15-8 advantage.

It only got worse in the second quarter as the Warriors could only muster three points to trail at the half 31-11.

Members of the Del Norte High girls varsity basketball team pose with their first place trophy, which they earned at a tournament in Mount Shasta on Saturday. The Warriors are currently 6-2 for the year. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

The squad took down Mount Shasta, which hosted the tournament, 41-39 Saturday night as the Warriors improved to one of their best starts in a while at 6-2. Already, they are only two victories away from equaling the number of wins they earned last  season.

Senior Lauryn Lesina, who was named MVP of the tournament, said it was a great feeling to do so well.

“I think it makes everyone believe,” she said. “It feels great the way we’re playing now.”

“It gives us a lot more confidence coming into league,” fellow senior Ariana Spalding said about the tournament title.“It feels great, especially since it’s my senior year.”

Originally, the event had six teams but a squad canceled right before it was about to start.

After two games Mount Shasta was on top at 2-0. There were three teams, Del Norte, Yreka and University Prep, that were 1-1.

The Warriors lost to Mount Shasta by nine points in the first  day of the tournament on Thursday. Del Norte defeated University Prep the next night.