Lady Cruisers Secure State Tournament Berth with Bickford's Career Night and Gritty Win Over Elma Eagles

In a thrilling game, the Eatonville Cruiser girls’ basketball team punched their ticket to the state tournament by defeating the Elma Eagles with a final score of 50-44. The game showcased the Cruisers' resilience and teamwork as they navigated through tough challenges posed by the Eagles.

The Eatonville Cruiser girls basketball team poses for a photo following their 50-44 victory over the Elma Eagles this past Saturday, clinching a berth into the state tournament for the first time since 2014. Photo: Kahla Hall

Eatonville surged ahead with a commanding 9-0 run at the start of the game, prompting Elma head coach Brandi Henry to call a timeout, aiming to halt the Cruiser's momentum and gather her team. Following the timeout, the Eagles responded with a 9-4 run of their own, narrowing the gap to just four points, with Eatonville leading 13-9 at the end of the quarter. Notably, Bailey Andersen contributed 9 points to the Cruisers' score during this stretch.

Eatonville would open up the 2nd quarter with three quick points thanks to free throws from Lillian Bickford and Hailey Hall to stretch the Cruiser lead to 7. Elma would battle back and outscore Eatonville 12-7 to finish out the quarter and cut into the Cruiser lead. As the halftime approached, Eatonville maintained a narrow lead of 23-21, propelled by Bickford's impressive 10 points, while Elma would hold Andersen scoreless.

The third quarter saw Eatonville extend their lead to 9 points with a couple of 5-0 runs. Hailey Hall emerged as a key offensive player for Eatonville, scoring 6 of the team's 13 points in the quarter; while once again, Elma was able to hold Andersen scoreless. The quarter ended with Eatonville ahead 36-29.

In the final quarter, after being held scoreless in the previous two periods, Bailey Andersen made her presence felt by converting six free throws out of twelve trips to the line, helping the Cruisers seal the victory and a trip to the state tournament.

Lillian Bickford delivered a standout performance with a career-high 17 points.

The game showcased Eatonville's depth, with three players recording double-doubles and one nearly achieving a triple-double. Alongside Bickford's impressive display, Andersen tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds, falling just short of a triple-double with 9 steals. Hailey Hall contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Sara Smith's defensive prowess stood out with 9 rebounds and 3 points. Ryan Stammen also made significant defensive contributions with 5 steals.

“I couldn’t be more proud of how well these girls handled themselves in stressful situations.” said Eatonville Head Coach Deanna Andersen. “Having to play Elma a third time is tough, especially when both teams know what they will be facing.”

Andersen commended her other players after Elma was able to shut down Andersen in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. “They had a three person rotation to try and shut down Bailey so we looked to our other players to really step up and fill the void. Luckily everyone played their roles and we made some plays work.”

“Both Lillian and Hailey stepped up in the quarters that Bailey was quiet to keep us rolling. Sara controlled under the hoop and didn’t let them have anything easy.”

That win puts the Cruisers into the State tournament for the first time since 2014.

Andersen added, “It feels great to go to state anytime whether it be back to back trips or after a dry spell. We are just excited for each new success. The whole team has put in a lot of hours including some younger girls helping with practices and they realize it takes all of them to continue to get better.”

On Sunday morning, the WIAA seeding committee convened to meticulously rank the 16 teams participating in the upcoming tournament. After careful deliberation, they assigned the Cruisers the 13 seed, setting the stage for their postseason journey. As the tournament kicks off with regional play, Eatonville finds themselves pitted against a familiar foe: the 12 seeded Seton Catholic Cougars. The showdown is scheduled for Friday, February 23rd, at Battle Ground High School in Battle Ground, Washington; with tip-off slated for 8:00 pm. Memories of their previous encounter linger, as in the second round of the district playoffs, the Cougars emerged victorious with a 65-55 triumph over the Cruisers.