Lady Cruisers Limp Into The District Playoffs
The Lady Cruiser basketball team had a rough week last week when they dropped their final two games of the regular season to Hoquiam and Elma to finish the season with a 12-7 overall record and 4-4 in Evergreen Conference play.
Eatonville welcomed the Hoquiam Grizzlies to Rainier Connect Arena this past Wednesday night in a crucial Evergreen Conference matchup.
With both teams tied at 4-2 in the Evergreen Conference standings, the Lady Cruisers needed a win over Hoquiam to lock up a second-place finish and the #2 seed in the district playoffs.
Unfortunately, Eatonville wasn't able to grab that win away as the Grizzlies came out on top in the game, 53-40.
The Lady Cruisers were a little short-handed on the night, with Bailey Andersen nursing an injured ankle, sophomore post Lillian Bickford out with a broken finger, and freshman Sadie Mettler out as well, but Eatonville was able to take a 3-point lead into the second quarter at 10-7.
The Grizzlies would battle back and outscore the Cruisers 17-13 in the second frame to take a 1-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
Both teams traded buckets and the lead in the third, but Hoquiam would win the battle in the quarter and take a 6-point lead into the final frame at 42-36.
The Cruiser offense would stall in the final quarter as they would only muster 4 points and the Grizzlies would pick up the win, 53-40.
With only three substitutes on the bench, a few Cruiser players found themselves in foul trouble early in the game which would affect the team's play. That foul trouble would catch up to them late in the game when two of their starters, Andersen and Sara Smith, as well as bench player Ella Gendreau would foul out of the game leaving Eatonville to finish the final seconds of the game with only four players on the court.
Box Score
HOQUIM 53, EATONVILLE 40
Eatonville 10 13 13 4 - 40
Hoquiam 7 17 18 11 - 53
Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 14, Hannah Kralik 9, Hailey Hall 5, Brooke Blocker 5, Sara Smith 3
Hoquiam: Bonney-Spradlin 17, Folkers 11, Chloe Kennedy 11, Broadhead 7, Cady 4, Howard 2, Gordon 1
With the loss to Hoquiam, the Cruisers were in a do-or-die situation for a chance to finish in second place. They would need to beat Elma and have Montesano beat Hoquiam to force a tie for second with Hoquiam and then let the tiebreaker system sort it out.
Montesano would do their part and beat Hoquiam, but the Lady Cruisers weren't able to do theirs as they would fall to the Elma Eagles 48-36, eliminating their shot at second place.
Struggling with injuries, Eatonville would trail the entire game and be hampered by turnovers all night.
Elma would ultimately grab a 48-36 victory and spoil the Cruisers' chances of a second-place finish.
Bailey Andersen led Eatonville with 16 points, putting her at 490 points for her career. Only 10 points shy of the coveted 500 points club.
Box Score
ELMA 48, EATONVILLE 36
Eatonville 4 12 11 9 - 36
Elma 9 16 10 13 - 48
Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 16, Alayna Meyer 6, Hailey Hall 6, Brooke Blocker 4, Sara Smith 4.
Elma: Mia Monroe 14, Aaleigha Weld 10, Eliza Sibbett 9, Olivia Moore 8, Emmie Spencer 4, Jackie DeMoss 3.
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