Herbrand Scores Career-High 26 as Cruisers Fall to Clover Park in Season Finale

The Eatonville Cruisers knew the challenge that awaited them Monday night.

Facing the first-place Clover Park Timberwolves on the road, the Cruisers were looking to close out their season on a high note. The last time the two teams met on Jan. 16, Clover Park claimed a 64-41 victory. This time, the stakes were final. Eatonville’s season hung in the balance.

Eatonville senior Colton Herbrand drives the lane and scores over Clover Park’s Trey-David Lunnie during a previous meeting between the teams. Herbrand poured in a career-high 26 points in the Cruisers’ 98-52 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday night. Photo: Heather Quirie

Behind a career night from senior Colton Herbrand, the Cruisers battled but ultimately fell 98-52 as Clover Park’s pressure, depth and rebounding proved too much to overcome.

For Herbrand, the loss did little to overshadow a memorable finish to his high school career. After scoring a career high in his previous game on Senior Night, he surpassed that mark again Monday, pouring in 26 points in his final appearance in a Cruiser uniform.

The Timberwolves set the tone early. An 8-0 opening run immediately put Eatonville in a hole it never escaped. A basket from Colton Herbrand finally stopped the surge, but the damage was already building. Eleven first-quarter turnovers allowed Clover Park to stretch its lead into double digits before the period ended.

The Herbrand brothers accounted for much of Eatonville’s offense in the opening eight minutes. Colton scored 10 points in the quarter, while his brother Ryder added four. Still, Clover Park’s pace and pressure carried it to a 29-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter followed a similar script. Clover Park opened with another decisive run, outscoring the Cruisers 14-0 to widen the gap. Once again, the Herbrand brothers responded. Colton knocked down a pair of buckets and Ryder added a layup as part of a 6-0 burst that briefly steadied Eatonville.

By then, however, the Timberwolves had already built a 21-point advantage at 43-22 midway through the quarter.

To Eatonville’s credit, the Cruisers dug in defensively over the final stretch of the half. They limited Clover Park to just four points the rest of the quarter and closed on a 9-4 run. Sam Twedt led the late push with five points in the period, while Colton Herbrand and Jeremy Osborn Jr. chipped in four apiece.

At halftime, Clover Park’s lead stood at 47-33.

The rebounding margin was narrow through two quarters, with the Timberwolves holding a slight 15-13 edge. Turnovers told a different story. Eatonville committed 17 first-half turnovers compared to 10 for Clover Park, and the Timberwolves converted many of those extra possessions into points.

The third quarter proved decisive. Clover Park opened the half on a 13-2 run, pushing its lead to 23 points at 60-37 midway through the period. The Timberwolves then limited Eatonville to just four points over the next four minutes, outscoring the Cruisers 16-4 to stretch the margin to 35 heading into the fourth quarter at 76-41.

Eatonville did protect the ball better in the third, turning it over just three times. But rebounding swung heavily in Clover Park’s favor. The Timberwolves controlled the glass 15-3 in the quarter, repeatedly creating second chances and preventing the Cruisers from establishing any rhythm. Colton Herbrand paced Eatonville with four points in the third.

Clover Park kept the pressure on in the final quarter. The Timberwolves forced seven more turnovers, outrebounded Eatonville 14-7 and knocked down shots from the perimeter. In all, Clover Park connected on 12 three-pointers in the game.

Herbrand added nine points in the fourth, finishing with a game-high 26. He fell just short of matching his first-quarter scoring outburst but capped his career with another standout effort.

Ryder Herbrand contributed seven points and four rebounds. Nash Sherrard added six points and two rebounds. Twedt finished with five points, two rebounds and three steals. Osborn Jr. totaled four points and four rebounds.

Clover Park’s final statistical edge was significant. The Timberwolves forced 27 Eatonville turnovers and dominated the boards 44-23.

With the loss, the Cruisers closed the season 4-16 overall and 3-11 in league play, finishing seventh in the 2A SPSL league standings. Their record and placing were not enough to earn one of the final two at-large berths into the district playoffs, bringing Eatonville’s season to an end.

Despite the final score, head coach Josh Bennett emphasized the progress his program made throughout the year.

“Our team and program made significant strides this year, and I am deeply grateful for the commitment, resilience, and effort from each player this season,” Bennett said.

He pointed to growth that extended beyond the stat sheet.

“Our culture took an important step forward this season, and our team truly began to connect and find its identity. We will continue to invest deeply in our culture, knowing it is the foundation that drives meaningful and lasting success. We are equally committed to developing our skills and strengthening the bonds that make us stronger together,” Bennett said.

For a team that battled through adversity and leaned on senior leadership down the stretch, the foundation laid this winter may matter more than the final standings.

“I am forever grateful for this season and for the success, growth, and valuable lessons it brought to the Cruiser basketball program. The future is bright, and we are excited to continue building, improving, and growing together,” Bennett said.

On a night when the scoreboard favored the Timberwolves, Eatonville’s seniors walked off the floor having left their mark. For Colton Herbrand, it meant back-to-back career highs and a final performance that reflected the fight his team carried all season.