Cruiser Boys Basketball Starts Season Off Strong

The Eatonville Cruiser Boys basketball team opened up the 2021-2022 season with a bang by going 2-0 in the opening week of the season.

Eatonville's Shay Brannon slams it home for 2 of his 30 points in the Cruisers 73-71 overtime victory against Cascade Christian. Photo: Alyssa Wood-Shotswell

With no restrictions on fan attendance this season, the Cruisers took to the road for their first game against the Cascade Christian Cougars and had a large crowd from Eatonville show up to cheer them on and the Cruisers wouldn’t disappoint. They would give that crowd a thrilling 73-71 overtime win.

Eatonville would lead by 14 points at halftime, but the Cougars would slowly chip away at that lead in the second half closing it to 9 points as the third quarter came to a close.

In the final quarter, the Cougars would again chip away at the Cruiser lead, and with 3.9 seconds left and trailing by 2, Cascade Christian’s Bo Jahno would go to the free-throw line to shoot two. After missing both free throws, the Cruisers were unable to secure the rebound and Jacob Jahno was able to grab it and put it in the basket as time expired to send the game into overtime tied at 66.

In overtime, Eatonville's Jake Wood would take over and score 5 of Eatonville's 7 points and pull down 4 of his game-high 14 rebounds.

With 8 seconds left in overtime, Cascade Christian had a chance to tie or take the lead, but both of their shot attempts were off the mark and the Cruisers would pick up the win, 73-71.

Shay Brannon would lead the Cruisers with a double-double scoring a career-high 30 points (5 three-pointers) and pulling down 10 rebounds. Jake Wood would also record a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Reilly McIlraith would chip in 13 points for the Cruisers.

The Cruiser would follow that thrilling victory up with another road win, this time against the La Center Wildcats, 74-66.

Eatonville would lead by as many as 12 points in the first half led by Jake Woods’s 8 points, but the Wildcats would trim that lead down to 7 at the half as the Cruisers would lead 33-26.

In the second half, the Wildcats would trim the Cruiser lead down to as little as 3 points, but Eatonville would hold on to take the 74-66 victory to improve their record to 2-0.

Four Cruiser players would score in double digits on the night. Jake Wood, Shay Brannon, and Jakob Lucht would each score 15 points and Reilly McIlraith would finish the night with 10.

Jake Wood would finish with 9 rebounds, 1 shy of recording his second double-double in as many games.

Next up, the Cruisers will play 3 games before Christmas with a road game against Morton/White Pass (7 pm start) before two home games against Rainier (7 pm start) and Orting (2 pm start).