Andersen Sets Scoring Record, Lady Cruisers Improve To 2-0

After having their season opener against the Morton-White Pass Wolves postponed and rescheduled due to the snow storm we had, The Eatonville Lady Cruiser basketball team finally got their season underway last week when they hosted the Foss Falcons in a non-league match-up that saw the Cruisers trounce the Falcons 75-31 to give first-year head coach Deanna Andersen her first win.

However, the bigger story of the week was the 78-61 win over the Morton-White Pass Timberwolves on Saturday that saw sophomore point guard Bailey Andersen break Hailey Rath's scoring record by dropping 45 points on the night.

Eatonville’s Bailey Andersen puts up a shot in the Cruisers’ victory over Morton-White Pass on Saturday. Andersen would go on to score 45 points in the game breaking the school record of 43 held by Hailey Rath. Photo: Cheryle Taylor

Head Coach Deanna Andersen and her daughter Bailey didn't have the scoring record in mind.

"Neither Bailey nor I had any idea about the record. She knew the record was set by Hailey Rath of course because we saw her set it but I didn't know until after the game that she had beaten it," said Andersen.

"No, I didn't realize until I looked at the scoreboard that I had made it. It's amazing because Hailey Rath left big shoes to fill," said the younger Andersen.

"I could have never broken this record without having a strong team that is willing to fight for everything!"

The Cruisers would trail MWP by 12 after the opening quarter, slowly claw their way back into the game, and only trail by 5 at the half. Andersen would lead all scorers with 16 points.

Eatonville would open up the third quarter by taking the lead on an 11-3 run. Andersen would catch fire, scoring 14 of the team's 19 points in the quarter, and help extend the Cruiser lead to 4 at 52-48.

In the final frame, The Lady Cruiser put the "nail in the coffin" so to speak by outsourcing the T-Wolves 26-13, with Andersen scoring 15 of those points on her way to her record-breaking 45, to give the Lady Cruisers a 78-61 victory.

Earlier in the week, the Cruiser had their season opener and hosted the Foss Falcons. Eatonville bullied their way to a 44-point victory, 75-31 to give first-year head coach Deanna Andersen her first win.

"The girls came out a bit sluggish and started to warm up in the 2nd a bit but were still not playing like themselves. They really got fired up at halftime so that we could come out more aggressive. Finally, the spark ignited and they started playing not just reacting," said Andersen.

She continued, "To quote one of my seniors "we are more like family than a team" and I believe that in how much they support each other and have faith that each member can do their part to get the win."

Eatonville got things started on their opening possession when sophomore guard Bailey Andersen hit from the right side of the key to give the Cruisers a 2-0 lead, a lead they will hold the entire game.

The Cruisers would reel off 15 straight points to open the game and hold the Falcons scoreless until the final seconds of the 1st quarter when Andrea Tillman would lay the ball up and in to give Foss their first points of the game. That 15-2 run put the game out of reach early and allowed the Cruisers to pile on more points as the game progressed.

The 2nd quarter saw Foss put up more of a fight, scoring 12 points to Eatonvile's 17 as the teams headed to the locker rooms at halftime with the Cruisers leading 32-14.

Bailey Andersen would score 10 of her game-high 25 points in the 3rd quarter to further extend Eatonville's lead to 50-24 as the teams headed into the final quarter.

Junior Sara Smith would pour in 6 points in the final frame to help Eatonville come away with the 75-31 victory.

"I've been so happy with how everyone has stepped up, Sara is another leader on the court for us. She is really quarterbacking the team and making sure people get where they need to be and helping some of the players newer to varsity. The communication overall has really improved. It's nice to know I'm not limited to 5 players and those on the bench will also contribute," said Andersen.

Next Up: The Lady Cruisers will host the Cascade Christian Cougars on Saturday, December 17th at 5:30 pm.

BOX SCORE

EATONVILLE 75, FOSS 31

Eatonville - 15 17 18 25 - 75

Foss - 2 12 10 7 - 31

Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 25, Alayna Meyer 13, Brooke Blocker 11, Lillian Bickford 8, Sara Smith 6, Hannah Kralik 5, Hailey Hall 4, Ryan Stammen 2, Ella Gendreau 1

BOX SCORE

EATONVILLE 78, MORTON-WHITE PASS 61

Eatonville - 12 21 19 26 - 78

MWP - 24 14 10 13 - 61

Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 45, Sara Smith 11, Ryan Stammen 8, Brooke Blocker 5, Hailey Hall 4, Alayna Meyer 3, Hannah Kralik 2