Lady Cruisers Struggle in tough three-game stretch

A tough stretch of basketball tested the Eatonville Cruisers last week as they dropped three games in five days against league contenders and a nonleague opponent. Turnovers and defensive pressure proved to be recurring issues as the Lady Cruisers searched for consistency coming off a brief return to the win column the week before.

Eatonville senior Sadie Mettler fights for position against Fife's Mallory Geving in the Lady Cruisers game last week against The Trojans. Later in the week, Mettler would score 8 points in a loss to Clover Park. Photo: Heather Quirie

Eatonville opened the week Tuesday, January 13, hosting the first place Fife Trojans at Rainier Connect Arena at Eatonville High School. The Cruisers were hoping to build momentum after snapping a four game losing streak late the previous week, but Fife arrived riding a two game win streak and quickly took control.

The Trojan press defense caused problems from the opening minutes, forcing 41 Eatonville turnovers and turning them into easy scoring chances in a 60-16 Fife victory.

After Josie Lavergne opened the scoring with a bucket, Fife answered with an 18-0 run fueled by 14 Cruiser turnovers in the first quarter. Eatonville managed just four points in the period, with Lavergne and Jordyn Green scoring two apiece, and trailed 20-4 at the end of one. Turnovers continued to pile up in the first half, with 26 before the break, though Eatonville did find some success on the glass, out rebounding the Trojans 24-21.

Fife stretched the lead further in the second quarter with a 5-0 run to open and a 13-0 run late. Lavergne and Avery Crowder each scored two points for Eatonville, but the Trojans headed into halftime up 39-8.

The third quarter followed a similar pattern. An 11-0 Fife run pushed the lead to 50-8 before Delaney Livernash knocked down a pair of free throws. Those were Eatonville’s only points of the quarter, and Fife led 52-10 heading into the fourth.

The Cruisers scored six points in the final period, their highest scoring quarter of the night. Morgan Laird hit two free throws, while Savanna Price and Dakota Montgomery added baskets, but Fife closed out the 60-16 win.

Lavergne led Eatonville with four points and eight rebounds. Green, Laird, Livernash, Crowder, Price, and Montgomery each scored two points.

The following night, Wednesday, January 14, Eatonville traveled to Chehalis to face No. 11 ranked W.F. West at W.F. West High School. The Bobcats’ defense proved just as suffocating, forcing 32 turnovers that led to 29 points and controlling the boards with a 32-18 rebounding edge in a 71-17 victory.

W.F. West opened the game with a 20-0 run that effectively put the contest out of reach before Eatonville found the scoreboard. The Cruisers were limited to five points in the first quarter, three of them from Avery Crowder, and trailed 31-5.

The second quarter started the same way, with a 10-0 Bearcat run before Lavergne made a free throw that accounted for Eatonville’s only point of the period. W.F. West carried a 48-6 lead into halftime.

Eatonville showed some offensive life in the third quarter, scoring six points with Lavergne contributing five, but the Bearcats continued to pull away and led 64-12 at the end of three.

The Cruisers held W.F. West to just seven points in the fourth quarter, their lowest output of the game, while Eatonville scored five of its own. The defensive effort did little to change the outcome as the Bearcats secured a 71-17 win.

Lavergne finished with six points for Eatonville. Green added five points and three rebounds, Crowder scored four points, and Montgomery chipped in two.

Eatonville wrapped up the week Friday, January 16, on the road against Clover Park at Clover Park High School. The Cruisers were competitive but came up short in a 53-39 loss to the Timberwolves. No statistics were available for the game.

After a challenging three game week, the Lady Cruisers will look to regroup as they continue 2A SPSL league play. Eatonville travels to Orting High School on Tuesday, January 20, for a rivalry matchup with the Orting Cardinals at 7 p.m. The Cruisers then return home Friday, January 23, to Rainier Connect Arena to host the Foss Falcons, with tipoff scheduled for 5:15 p.m.