Bickford's Double-Doubles Highlight Lady Cruisers' Dominant Week
The Eatonville Lady Cruisers basketball team powered through an intense three-game stretch last week, coming away with three decisive wins that underscored their dominance in the 2A SPSL League. Led by standout performances from Bailey Andersen, who recently set a school record and earned WIAA and The News Tribune Athlete of the Week honors, the Cruisers extended their league record to 9-0 and improved to 14-3 overall.
The Cruisers started their week on the road in Tacoma, facing the Foss Falcons on Thursday. Right from the opening tip, Eatonville set the tone with their aggressive defense and precision offense. The first quarter featured a 19-point outburst, highlighted by Andersen’s 9 points and a pair of Jordyn Green three-pointers. By the end of the quarter, Eatonville held a commanding 19-7 lead.
In the second quarter, the Cruisers exploded on a 21-0 run, with Andersen staying hot and pouring in 11 points. Lillian Bickford, Alayna Meyer, and Morgan Laird chipped in with 4 points each during the period, giving Eatonville a massive 48-9 advantage at the half.
Though the offense slowed slightly in the third, Bickford’s 6 points and 6 rebounds helped Eatonville push the lead to 60-13. The fourth quarter was a defensive masterclass, as the Cruisers held the Falcons scoreless to secure the 70-13 victory.
Andersen led all scorers with 23 points, while Bickford recorded a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Alayna Meyer and Jordyn Green each added 8 points, with Hailey Hall chipping in 6 points and 7 rebounds.
"We wanted to make a statement with our defense, and the girls executed beautifully. Holding a team scoreless for an entire quarter is no easy feat, but our focus never wavered. Bailey and Lillian were tremendous, and it was great to see contributions from so many players across the board. Hailey has been so solid and consistent with rebounds, steals, and assists."
Less than 24 hours after dismantling Foss, the Cruisers were back on their home court, hosting the Washington Patriots. Despite the quick turnaround, Eatonville showed no signs of fatigue. The game opened with an electrifying 19-0 run, fueled by Andersen’s 11 first-quarter points. The defense suffocated Washington, forcing turnovers and holding the Patriots to just 2 points in the opening frame as the Cruisers led 29-2.
In the second quarter, Alayna Meyer found her rhythm, scoring 6 of her 8 points during a dominant period that extended Eatonville’s lead to 48-12 at the break. Coming out of halftime, the Cruisers went on a 7-0 run, effectively putting the game out of reach.
The final quarter mirrored the first, as the Eatonville defense locked down and allowed no points while the offense added 14 unanswered to seal the 78-20 victory.
Andersen was again the star of the show, finishing with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Bickford had another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Miley King had a breakout performance with a career-high 9 points. Tia Schanbeck contributed in every facet, recording 6 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals.
"I was so impressed with how the girls responded to the back-to-back challenge. We came out with energy, focus, and purpose. Bailey continues to lead us with her consistency, but tonight was about the depth of this team. Seeing Miley step up and have her best game yet was exciting, and Lillian and Tia’s hustle on both ends of the court made a huge difference."
The Lady Cruisers wrapped up their taxing week by hosting the R.A. Long Lumberjills in a non-league matchup on Saturday. Despite playing their third game in three days, Eatonville showed resilience, overcoming an early 6-0 deficit to dominate the contest. Andersen’s 7 first-quarter points helped the Cruisers rally and take a slim 15-12 lead into the second.
The second quarter was all Eatonville, as Bickford took control in the paint. She scored 9 of her game-high 17 points in the quarter and grabbed 6 rebounds, sparking a 10-0 run that gave the Cruisers a comfortable 39-25 halftime lead.
The third quarter saw the Cruisers put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run, highlighted by Jordyn Green’s two three-pointers. Eatonville led by 23 heading into the final frame, where they closed out with another dominant defensive performance, outscoring R.A. Long 17-5 to win 75-37.
Bickford recorded her third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, capping off an incredible week. Andersen followed closely with 16 points, while Alayna Meyer tallied a season-high 11 points. Schanbeck also posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Green added 10 points, and Hailey Hall continued her rebounding dominance with 9 boards and 7 points.
"This game was a true team effort to close out a tough week on a high note. Having all 10 players contributing on the scoreboard and five of them finishing in double digits shows how balanced and deep this team is. The consistency, work ethic, and energy from everyone on the court made the difference and really set the tone for the game."
Eatonville faces another challenging three-game week, hosting Steilacoom on Tuesday Jan 28th and Foss on Wednesday Jan. 29th before heading to Franklin Pierce on Friday Jan. 31st.
Tuesday’s game will be the Cruisers final regular season home game and will be Senior Night where the team and community recognize the hard work the senior players have put in during their time with the program. The Senior Night recognition is slated to begin at 6:15 pm prior to the game
"These back-to-back weeks of three games are preparing us for the postseason grind. The girls are embracing the challenge, and we’re building momentum at the right time. This team is tough, resilient, and ready to keep pushing forward."
The Lady Cruisers are in prime position to make a deep playoff run, fueled by their depth, determination, and dominance on both ends of the court.
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