Eatonville Cruisers Suffer Back-to-Back Defeats, Struggle to Find Rhythm
The Eatonville Cruiser boys' basketball team faced a tough week on the court, dropping two games in league play that exposed issues with consistency and execution. A blowout loss to Franklin Pierce on Tuesday, Jan. 7, followed by a collapse against Fife on Friday, Jan. 10, left the Cruisers still searching for answers.
Franklin Pierce 73, Eatonville 26
In Tuesday’s matchup, the Cruisers struggled to contend with Franklin Pierce’s speed, aggressiveness, and length. The game spiraled out of control early, with Eatonville shooting just 4-for-12 from the field in the opening quarter and finding themselves down 18-9 at the buzzer. Colton Herbrand paced the Cruisers with four points in the period, but turnovers and an inability to secure rebounds allowed the Cardinals to control the game.
The second quarter was disastrous for Eatonville. Franklin Pierce opened with a 10-0 run and later added a 14-0 burst to extend their lead to 54-15 by halftime. The Cruisers’ offense faltered, connecting on only three of 12 shots while committing nine turnovers in the frame.
Eatonville showed a brief spark in the third quarter, opening on a 7-2 run, but Franklin Pierce responded with nine unanswered points to quash any momentum. Entering the fourth quarter trailing 70-26, the Cruisers were completely stifled, failing to score a single point in the final period.
Lowell McWright led Eatonville with eight points, followed by Colton Herbrand’s six. Michael Stogsdill and Nate Goode each added five, while Amari Samuel, the team’s leading scorer this season, was held to just two points—a season low.
Fife 65, Eatonville 42
Friday’s matchup against the Fife Trojans offered hope for the Cruisers, as they battled closely through three quarters before an offensive collapse in the fourth sealed their fate.
The game started ominously, with Fife opening on an 11-0 run, but Eatonville clawed back with an 8-0 spurt to make it 11-8. The Trojans finished the quarter on a 6-2 run to lead 17-10 heading into the second.
Eatonville responded with a 5-0 run to start the second quarter, pulling within two points. The teams traded baskets and momentum swings throughout the period, ultimately tying at 24 before Fife closed the half on a 7-2 run to lead 31-26 at the break.
The third quarter saw Eatonville surge ahead with a 7-4 run, followed by an 8-0 streak to claim a 41-35 lead. Fife, however, closed the quarter strong with a 6-1 run, leaving Eatonville clinging to a slim 42-41 advantage heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter was a nightmare for the Cruisers. Their offense went ice cold, failing to score a single point as Fife unleashed a relentless 24-0 run to close out the game. Eatonville was out-rebounded 12-4 in the period, and their inability to generate scoring opportunities doomed them to a 65-42 loss.
Amari Samuel led the Cruisers with 13 points, while Jeremy Osborn Jr. contributed nine. Lowell McWright added seven, and Colton Herbrand grabbed a team-high eight rebounds alongside his four points.
Looking Ahead
The Cruisers will look to bounce back with two road games next week. They travel to Lakewood on Tuesday, Jan. 14, to face the Clover Park Timberwolves, followed by a rivalry showdown at Orting against the Cardinals on Friday, Jan. 17. Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Eatonville will need to regroup quickly if they hope to turn their season around and find success in the challenging league schedule ahead.
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