Bickford Scores Career-High, Lady Cruisers Improve to 11-3

After getting off to a slow start, the Lady Cruisers turned their offense on and ran away from the Elma Eagles in a 1A Evergreen Conference match-up on Jan. 17.

Eatonville sophomore Lillian Bickford scored a career-high 16 points as she helped her team pick up their third league win, 53-31.

Eatonville's Lillian Bickford scores over a defender in a game earlier in the season. Bickford scored a career-high 16 points in the Cruisers' 53-31 win over Elma on Jan.17. Photo: Cheryl Taylor

It took Eatonville until midway through the first quarter before recording their first bucket of the night. It seemed as though there was a lid on the Cruisers' basket as shots and lay-ups just wouldn't drop for them. Once they scored that first bucket, the offense started flowing.

That offense in the first quarter flowed through Bickford as she scored 11 of the team's 14 points. The Eagles didn't have an answer for the sophomore center down low.

"Lillian stepped up and found her groove early. She is putting in lots of work and gaining confidence," commented Head Coach Deanna Anderson on Bickford's emergence as a threat down low.

"Her strength and positioning are improving as the season progresses. She is determined to be one of our biggest threats in the future. Her height makes her a target. Therefore, learning the mental side is as challenging as the physical."

The Cruisers would enjoy an early 14-5 lead heading into the second which saw Brooke Blocker's jump shot start to heat up. She would score 6 in the quarter to help the Cruisers extend their lead at the half and they would lead by 15 at 28-13.

The Elma offense got rolling a bit in the third quarter. It managed to score 10 points to the Cruisers' 12 but that allowed Eatonville to increase their lead by 17 entering the final quarter.

Bailey Andersen, who only had 7 points at the half would start to heat up. She would drop in 10 points in the final frame to help lift the Cruisers to their 11th win of the season and third in league play.

Box Score

EATONVILLE 53, ELMA 31

Eatonville 14 14 12 13 - 53

Elma 5 8 10 8 - 31

Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 19, Lillian Bickford 16, Brooke Blocker 6, Sara Smith 4, Ryan Stammen 3, Hannah Kralik 3, Saide Mettler 2

Elma: Emmie Spencer 9, Aubrey Moore 8, Aaleigha Weld 6, Mia Monroe 4, Karly Rambo 2, Malia Sibbett 2

The Lady Cruisers now sit at 11-3 overall and 3-1 in Evergreen Conference play and have a firm grip on second place.

The Lady Cruisers will enjoy a week's break while gearing up for their big rematch with first-place Montesano. Eatonville will host the Montesano Bulldogs on Wednesday, January 25th at 7:00 pm.