Lady Cruisers End Skid Behind Green’s 16 Points, Lavergne’s 16 Rebounds

After a close heartbreaker against Orting on Tuesday, the Lady Cruisers snapped their 4 game skid with a dominate win on Friday night over the Foss Falcons.

Eatonville returned home Friday, Jan. 23, and looked every bit like a team ready to reset its season. Hosting Foss in a 2A SPSL League matchup, the Lady Cruisers controlled the game early and never let it slip, earning a 43-31 win after also taking the earlier meeting between the teams 38-29.

Eatonville sophomore Delaney Livernash knocks down one of her three triples on Friday night as the Cruisers defeated the Foss Falcons 43-31. Livernash scored all nine of her points from beyond the arc, providing a big spark in Eatonville’s rebound win. Photo: Heather Quirie

Foss struck first with an early three pointer, but Eatonville answered right back with a three of its own to tie the game. The teams traded baskets through the opening minutes before Eatonville found its rhythm midway through the quarter. The Lady Cruisers went on a 7-2 run and then closed the period with a 5-0 spurt to open up a double digit lead. Josie Lavergne scored six points in the quarter as Eatonville took a 19-9 lead after one.

The momentum carried into the second quarter. Eatonville extended the closing run from the first into a 10-0 opening burst to start the period and quickly pushed the lead out of reach. Delaney Livernash knocked down a pair of three pointers and scored six points in the quarter, while Jordyn Green added five as the Lady Cruisers stretched their advantage to 20 by halftime. Eatonville led 34-14 at the break.

The third quarter saw Eatonville’s offense cool off. The Lady Cruisers scored just seven points in the period, five coming from Green, and Foss edged Eatonville 8-7 in the quarter. Still, the early work left Eatonville in full control heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was the coldest stretch of the night for the Cruisers. Eatonville managed only two points, both on Jordyn Green free throws, as Foss outscored them 9-2. The deficit from the first half proved too much for the Falcons to overcome, and Eatonville closed out the 43-31 victory.

Green led all scorers and recorded a double double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Morgan Laird finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Livernash hit three three pointers and ended with nine points, seven rebounds and a steal. Lavergne was dominant on the glass, pulling down 16 rebounds to go with six points in the paint.

The win came just three days after Eatonville nearly erased a big deficit in a tough road loss at Orting on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The Cardinals had won the first meeting earlier in the season 39-37, and the rematch followed a similar script.

Eatonville scored first on a Sadie Mettler free throw, but Orting answered with back to back baskets to take a 4-1 lead. Two straight buckets from Lavergne gave the Cruisers a brief 5-4 edge before the Cardinals went on a 7-0 run to pull ahead 11-5. A Jordyn Green three pointer in the closing seconds cut the margin to three, but Eatonville trailed 11-8 after one. Turnovers hurt the Cruisers early, committing nine in the quarter. Lavergne led Eatonville with four points, while Mettler grabbed seven of the team’s 13 rebounds.

In the second quarter, Eatonville briefly regained the lead when Lavergne hit two free throws at the 4:40 mark to make it 15-14. Orting responded with a decisive run, closing the half on a 15-2 stretch that included three made three pointers. The Cardinals took a 29-17 lead into halftime.

Orting opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run to push the lead to 34-17. Eatonville responded by forcing six Cardinal turnovers and slowly chipped away. The Cruisers cut the deficit to 12 by the end of the quarter, trailing 39-27.

Eatonville made its final push in the fourth. The Lady Cruisers opened the period with a 4-0 run to get within single digits. A 6-0 run midway through the quarter trimmed the lead to 42-37 with 3:36 remaining. With 2:10 left, Eatonville used another 4-0 run to pull within three at 44-41. Orting answered immediately with a three pointer to push the lead back to six. Eatonville had chances in the final minute, but shots would not fall. The Cruisers outscored Orting 15-8 in the quarter but fell 47-42.

Green led Eatonville with 12 points, nine rebounds and a couple of steals. Lavergne added 11 points, seven rebounds, a block and a steal. Laird scored six points and grabbed three rebounds. Livernash finished with seven points, four rebounds and two steals. Mettler led all players with 14 rebounds to go along with four points.

Eatonville will be back on the road this week with two more league tests. The Lady Cruisers travel to face the Washington Patriots on Tuesday, Jan. 27, before heading to Steilacoom to take on the Sentinels on Friday, Jan. 30. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.