Cruisers Ground Rockets, Advance To District Semifinals

Despite struggling with turnovers and foul troubles most of the night, the Cruisers were still able to outpace Castle Rock as they downed the Rockets 64-53 in the first round of the Southwestern Washington District 4 playoffs Friday night at Rainier Connect Arena in Eatonville.

Eatonville’s Shay Brannon elevates past Castle Rock’s Trevor Rogen for the score. Brannon would lead the Cruisers with 24 points and help them defeat the Rockets 64-53. Photo: Cheryl Taylor

A rematch of last year's district championship game that saw the Rockets edge the Cruisers in a close battle 44-42. The Cruisers would get revenge in this game sending Castle Rock to the consolation rounds.

After a close game in the 1st quarter that saw Eatonville's Shay Brannon take over and score 12 points which helped the Cruisers take a 20-point advantage at 16-14.

The Cruisers would use a 6-0 run early in the 2nd quarter to build a lead and take an 11-point lead into the locker room at 37-26. Griffin Clevenger's 9 points in the quarter would be key to that lead.

The Rockets wouldn't roll over though as they would battle back in the third quarter to cut the Cruiser lead to 6. With the Cruisers leading 46-40, Eatonville's Griffin Clevenger hit a three-quarter court shot as time expired in the quarter to extend their lead to 9 entering the final period.

Eatonville's Griffin Clevenger celebrates with 3 fingers in the air denoting the three-courter court 3-point shot he hit at the buzzer at the end of the third quarter in the Cruisers win over Castle Rock. Photo: Cheryl Taylor

Foul trouble would creep up on the Cruisers in the final period with Brannon and Kyle Cox fouling out but not before they combined for 8 of the Cruisers' points in the quarter. The rest of the team would take over and limit the Rockets to only 5 points in the final four minutes to help lead Eatonville to the win.

Shay Brannon led Eatonville with 24 points

With that win, Eatonville advances to the semifinals and will host the Elma Eagles on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 6 pm at Rainier Connect Arena at Eatonville HS.

Eatonville has had the upper hand over Elma in their two meetings this season with Eatonville winning both games by double digits, 88-67 and 68-58.

The winner of that game will head to the district championship game on Saturday, Feb. 18.

EATONVILLE 64, CASTLE ROCK 53

Eatonville 16 21 12 15 - 64

Castle Rock 14 12 14 13 - 53

Eatonville: Shay Brannon 24, Kyle Cox 16, Griffin Clevenger 12, Hunter Klumpar 5, Walker Bruun 4, Mark Nueva 2, Shane Taylor 1.

Castle Rock: Trystin Marin 31, Lane Partridge 10, James Montgomery 10, Trevor Rogen 2.