Lady Cruisers Battle Past Ridgefield 55-51, Advance to 2A State Tournament Showdown in Yakima SunDome
The Eatonville Cruisers led from start to finish and held off a late Ridgefield rally to secure a 55-51 victory in the opening round of the WIAA 2A Girls State Basketball playoffs on Friday, Feb. 28. With the win, the Cruisers advance to the round of 12, where they will face the No. 6 seeded Prosser Mustangs in a loser-out game at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
The Cruisers built a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Ridgefield fought back behind a strong performance from first-team all-league selection Madison Ingham, who scored 10 of her team-high 15 points in the final period. However, Ingham fouled out with just under four minutes to play and Eatonville clinging to a 49-48 lead. Shortly after, the Spudders lost their second-leading scorer, Nora Martin, to fouls as well.
Eatonville’s defense played a pivotal role in the win, limiting Ridgefield—a team known for its perimeter shooting—to just four made three-pointers. Turnovers plagued the Cruisers throughout the game, as they coughed up the ball 30 times compared to Ridgefield’s 20. However, Eatonville dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Spudders 38-24, with Hailey Hall pulling down 13 boards.
The Cruisers, typically reliable at the free-throw line, struggled in this contest, converting just 8-of-17 attempts. None, however, were bigger than Tia Schanbeck’s free throw with 4.5 seconds remaining, which extended Eatonville’s lead to four and effectively sealed the game.
Eatonville wasted no time establishing its inside presence, feeding 6-foot-4 post Lillian Bickford for two quick baskets to take an early lead. The teams traded baskets for much of the quarter before Eatonville closed on a short scoring run to lead 19-13 after one. Turnovers hindered the Cruisers early, as they committed eight giveaways to Ridgefield’s three. However, a strong 8-3 rebounding advantage helped keep them in control.
Ridgefield opened the second quarter with a quick transition basket off an Eatonville turnover, setting the tone for a back-and-forth period. Bickford, who scored eight in the first quarter, faced increased defensive pressure and was limited offensively. That allowed Bailey Andersen to step up, scoring eight points in the quarter as the Cruisers took a 33-29 lead into the half.
At halftime, Eatonville head coach Deanna Andersen emphasized the importance of limiting turnovers and controlling the boards. While the Cruisers continued to struggle with giveaways, turning the ball over nine more times, they dominated the glass with a staggering 17-3 rebounding advantage. Andersen’s five points and a key three-pointer from Alayna Meyer helped Eatonville maintain its lead at 45-40 heading into the final frame.
Eatonville started the final quarter strong, opening with a 4-0 run to stretch the lead to nine. However, Ridgefield responded with an 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to 49-48 with 3:38 remaining. With the game in the balance, Eatonville turned to Bickford, who scored four more points to extend the lead to 54-48. Ridgefield’s Josie Hicks split a pair of free throws to make it 54-49, and after securing an offensive rebound, Baylee Bushnell converted a layup to bring the Spudders within three at 54-51 with just over a minute remaining.
Eatonville attempted to run down the clock, but a missed Andersen three-pointer gave Ridgefield the ball back with 42 seconds left. The Spudders struggled against Eatonville’s press, leading to a Jordyn Green steal with 25 seconds to go. Green went to the line but missed both free throws, giving Ridgefield another chance. The Spudders worked for a final shot, but Sava Chanda’s three-pointer missed the mark. Hall secured the rebound and found Schanbeck, who was fouled with 4.5 seconds left. Schanbeck, battling the flu, missed her first free throw but calmly sank the second to put the game out of reach. Ridgefield’s last-second heave bounced off the backboard as the final buzzer sounded.
Andersen led all scorers with 20 points, while Bickford made a strong impact with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots. Hall recorded an impressive double-double, tallying 11 points and 13 rebounds. Despite playing through illness, Schanbeck's three points, four rebounds, and a clutch free throw played a vital role in securing the victory. Both Schanbeck and Andersen contributed several key assists, further fueling the team's success.
Coach Deanna Andersen on the defensive effort: “Ridgefield is a tough team and shoots well from beyond the arc. Our girls did well defending that and were able to limit them to only four in the game.”
“At the half, I told the girls we needed to focus on reducing turnovers and controlling the boards while still challenging their three-point game,” Andersen added.
When asked about Schanbeck, Andersen said “Tia was very sick and I felt bad for her, but we had under a minute to play and she has some of the best hands on the team, so I knew I needed her in case they decided to foul us.”
Schanbeck on playing while sick: “It was definitely a struggle trying to play while not feeling the best, but I knew this could be our last game, so I had to push through no matter how bad I felt. My strength mostly came from my team—they knew I would need more support this game, and they gave me that extra support. Playing for my team was what really kept me going and kept me wanting to push to play better.”
On her final free throw: “During my second free throw, I knew I couldn’t let my team down, considering I didn’t have my best overall game, but hearing our student section and bench yelling that I got it gave me the focus and reassurance I needed to make the shot.”
With the victory, Eatonville moves on to face Prosser in the round of 12. That game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, at 3:45 p.m. in Yakima, with the winner advancing further in the state tournament.
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