Early deficits, tough defenses sink Eatonville in two league losses
- Skip Smith
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Eatonville Cruisers endured a challenging week in 2A SPSL League play, dropping road games to Washington and Steilacoom despite stretches of strong effort, improved rebounding, and late-game resilience.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Eatonville fell 51-41 to the Washington Patriots at Washington High School after digging an early hole and spending much of the night trying to climb out of it.
The Cruisers struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the opening quarter, scoring just four points while being outrebounded 18-6 during a 12-2 Patriot run. Morgan Laird and Delaney Livernash each scored two points in the period, with Livernash’s pair of free throws stopping the run at the 2:28 mark. Washington led 12-4 after one.
Eatonville responded in the second quarter with better energy and much better work on the glass. The Cruisers opened on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to three before Washington answered with a 10-0 burst fueled by a three pointer, inside buckets, and a free throw to stretch the lead to 24-11 midway through the quarter.
Dakota Montgomery stopped the run with a rebound and put back, and Jordyn Green followed with a three pointer to make it 24-16. Trailing 26-18 with a minute left in the half, Livernash knocked down two free throws and Josie Lavergne scored inside to trim the lead to four. Eatonville closed the half on an 8-2 run and went to the locker room down 28-24 after out rebounding Washington 11-5 in the quarter. Montgomery came off the bench to grab four rebounds that directly led to four points.
Washington regained control early in the third, opening the half with a three pointer that sparked a 13-3 run and pushed the lead to 41-27 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter. Avery Crowder ended the run with a steal and basket and added another bucket before the horn. Her four points helped Eatonville pull within 43-31 heading to the fourth.
Both teams struggled to score early in the final period, combining for 10 turnovers before any points were scored. With 5:37 left, Montgomery again broke through by securing a rebound and scoring on the put back. That basket sparked a 5-0 Cruiser run that cut the deficit to 46-38 with just over two minutes to play. Washington answered down the stretch with free throws and timely baskets to seal the 51-41 win.
Green led Eatonville with 11 points and six rebounds. Laird finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and four steals. Livernash added seven points and five rebounds, while Montgomery posted a career-high six points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Lavergne pulled down 12 rebounds as the Cruisers held a slim 48-46 edge on the boards.
Three nights later, Eatonville was back on the road and ran into a tough Steilacoom Sentinels defense in a 48-23 loss Friday, Jan. 30, at Steilacoom High School.
The Lady Cruisers got off to a promising start, taking a 5-1 lead on a Jordyn Green three pointer and a Morgan Laird bucket. Steilacoom responded by clamping down defensively and holding Eatonville scoreless the rest of the quarter while closing on an 8-0 run to lead 9-5. Lavergne was active early, pulling down seven of Eatonville’s 17 first-quarter rebounds.
Steilacoom made its biggest push to open the second quarter, rattling off a 10-0 run highlighted by three consecutive three pointers to stretch the lead to 19-5. Montgomery ended the run with a basket off the bench, but the Sentinels quickly followed with a 6-0 run to make it 25-7. Sadie Mettler knocked down a jumper to stop that stretch. Steilacoom closed the half with a 5-0 run and took a 30-9 lead into the break, using an eight-rebound advantage and five forced turnovers in the quarter.
Eatonville’s offensive struggles continued in the third, as the Cruisers managed just three points on a Mettler free throw and a Livernash basket. Steilacoom finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 40-12. After allowing 21 points in the second quarter, Eatonville’s defense held the Sentinels to 10 points in the third.
The Cruisers showed life in the fourth, opening the period on a 10-2 run and holding Steilacoom to eight points in the quarter, but the deficit proved too much to overcome. The Sentinels closed out the 48-23 victory.
Lavergne and Green led Eatonville with five points apiece, with Lavergne also grabbing 11 rebounds.
Despite the result, head coach Chelsea Caramandi praised her team’s effort.
“None of our shots would drop! However, I’m so proud of the girls,” Caramandi said. “They played as a team tonight and played with class.”
The Lady Cruisers remain on the road next week, opening at Franklin Pierce High School against the Cardinals on Monday, Feb. 2, before finishing the week Friday, Feb. 6, at McCrossin Court against the Fife Trojans. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.
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