Lady Cruisers Dominate in Senior Night Blowout, Sweep Week’s Games
The Eatonville Lady Cruisers basketball team put on a dominant display this past week, securing three decisive victories and further cementing their place atop the 2A SPSL standings.
Tuesday night’s matchup against Steilacoom was not just another game—it was a chance to celebrate seven dedicated seniors who have been instrumental to the Cruiser program. Players Bailey Andersen, Lillian Bickford, Hailey Hall, Alayna Meyer, Ashley Peterson, Tia Schanbeck, and manager Sydney Wolf were honored before tip-off, receiving gifts and applause from the home crowd.
“Some of the seniors I have had since early elementary school, and it’s a great feeling to see them grow into amazing adults that also play basketball pretty well,” Head Coach Deanna Andersen said.
Once the ceremony ended, the Lady Cruisers got down to business, completely dismantling the Sentinels in a 71-17 victory.
Eatonville’s defense suffocated Steilacoom, forcing 28 turnovers—including 15 steals—and dominating the boards with 49 rebounds. Hall led the way on the glass with 15 rebounds, followed closely by Schanbeck with 13.
Bailey Andersen was unstoppable offensively, pouring in a game-high 28 points, including 13 in the opening quarter. The Cruisers stormed out to a 27-8 lead behind her scoring and relentless defensive pressure. By halftime, Eatonville was in complete control, leading 46-11.
The Cruisers took their foot off the gas in the third quarter but still maintained a comfortable 53-13 lead. In the final period, Meyer came alive, scoring eight of her season-high 16 points as Eatonville cruised to victory.
Alongside Andersen’s 28-point performance, Meyer added 16, Hall chipped in six points and 15 rebounds, and Schanbeck stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and a block. Bickford contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
“Great team ball tonight,” Coach Andersen added.
On Wednesday, Eatonville played its final regular-season home game, welcoming the Foss Falcons. Much like their first meeting, where the Cruisers rolled to a 70-13 win, Eatonville dominated once again, securing a lopsided 78-27 victory.
An 11-point first-quarter explosion from Bailey Andersen helped the Cruisers race out to a 27-8 advantage. Bickford and Hall took over in the second quarter, each scoring four points while pulling down key rebounds. Andersen added five more to give Eatonville a 52-15 halftime lead.
The Falcons managed nine points in the third, but Eatonville still stretched the lead to 68-24. A stifling defensive effort held Foss to just three free throws in the final period as the Cruisers closed out another commanding win.
Head Coach Deanna Andersen applauded her team’s great team work, “We came out aggressive and set the tone early. The girls did a great job moving the ball and finding the open looks. Defensively, we were disruptive, and that really fueled our offense. It was great to see so many players contribute tonight.”
Bailey Andersen finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Bickford added 13 points and seven boards, while Meyer chipped in 12 points. Morgan Laird had a career night, scoring 10 points. Schanbeck and Jordyn Green dished out five assists apiece.
The Lady Cruisers capped off their stellar week with a road game against Franklin Pierce on Friday. Playing in the nightcap of a boys-girls doubleheader, Eatonville wasted no time putting the game out of reach, rolling to a 75-30 victory.
Andersen continued her hot streak, scoring eight first-quarter points as Eatonville jumped out to a 27-9 lead. A smothering defense forced seven Cardinal turnovers, fueling a 22-0 first-quarter run.
Eatonville kept up the pressure in the second, opening with a 12-0 run led by Andersen’s nine points and Bickford’s five. The Cruisers' relentless defense forced nine more turnovers, limiting Franklin Pierce to just three points in the quarter. By halftime, the game was effectively over, with Eatonville up 46-12.
The Cardinals briefly showed signs of life after the break, scoring two quick baskets, but a 10-0 Eatonville run snuffed out any comeback hopes. Hall led the charge in the third, scoring four points as the Cruisers took a 61-21 lead into the final period.
Another 11-0 run to start the fourth sealed the deal, with Andersen leading the way with four more points. Green added three in the final minutes as Eatonville coasted to the 75-30 win.
Andersen led all scorers with 26 points and an impressive 11 assists. Hall and Bickford each finished with 13 points, with Hall grabbing six rebounds and Bickford collecting four.
"We wanted to start strong and set the tone early, and the team did just that," Coach Andersen said. "Our defensive pressure created easy scoring opportunities, and we moved the ball well.”
With a 16-3 overall record and a perfect 12-0 mark in the 2A SPSL, Eatonville sits firmly atop the standings with just two regular-season games remaining. The biggest test will be Tuesday, Feb. 4, when the Cruisers travel to Fife for a pivotal league matchup. The Trojans’ only league loss this season came against Eatonville, and a second defeat would all but clinch the league title for the Cruisers.
Tip-off for Tuesday’s game is set for 5:15 p.m. as part of another boys-girls doubleheader. Eatonville will then close out the regular season on the road against Clover Park on Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.
After the regular season, the District 3 seeding committee will meet on Monday, Feb. 10, to determine placements for the 12 teams advancing to the district tournament. Eatonville is in strong contention for one of the top two seeds, which would grant them a first-round bye and a home game in the second round. Seeds 5-8 will host first-round matchups, with winners advancing to face the top four teams.
Coach Andersen on the upcoming playoffs, “We’ve worked hard all season to put ourselves in this position, and now it’s about staying focused and playing our best basketball when it matters most. The girls have shown great chemistry and resilience, and I’m confident that if we keep up this level of intensity, we can make a deep run in the playoffs.”
With their dominant performances this past week, the Lady Cruisers have put themselves in prime position for that deep postseason run.
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