Mossyrock Three-point Barrage Sinks Lady Cruisers

Turnovers and perimeter shooting proved to be too much for the Eatonville Cruiser girls’ basketball team to overcome Saturday night as the Cruisers dropped a 59-16 non-league decision to the Mossyrock Vikings at Mossyrock High School.

Eatonville's Morgan Laird shoots over a Mossyrock player to score two of her team-high 6 points on the night in the Cruiser's loss to the Vikings. Photo: Heather Quirie

Eatonville was shorthanded, missing three players from its normal rotation and pulling up two freshmen to help fill minutes. Head coach Chelsea Caramandi said the circumstances were not an excuse, but acknowledged the night did not reflect the program’s expectations.

“Tonight wasn’t who we are,” Caramandi said. “It was a mental game, and we didn’t respond the way we’re capable of.”

Eatonville struggled to find any rhythm offensively and finished with 30 turnovers, compared to 13 for Mossyrock. The Vikings made the most of those extra possessions and showcased their shooting depth, draining nine three-pointers on the night. Those shots from beyond the arc accounted for 27 of Mossyrock’s 59 points and helped the Vikings steadily pull away.

The Cruisers got off to a promising start. Morgan Laird opened the scoring by knocking down a pair of free throws to give Eatonville a 2-0 lead. That would be the lone lead of the night for the visitors. Mossyrock answered with an 8-0 run fueled largely by Eatonville miscues, as the Cruisers turned the ball over 11 times in the opening quarter. Savanna Price scored Eatonville’s other basket of the period, but Mossyrock had built a 16-4 lead by the end of one.

Eatonville again struck first in the second quarter when Josie Lavergne scored early. The Vikings responded quickly, rattling off a pair of three-pointers to stretch the lead. Avery Crowder briefly halted that momentum with a free throw, but Mossyrock then put together a decisive 16-0 run that essentially put the game out of reach. Sadie Mettler added a free throw late in the quarter, but Eatonville headed into the locker room trailing 40-8.

Mossyrock continued to apply pressure after halftime, outscoring Eatonville 17-6 in the third quarter. Mettler, Laird and Jordyn Green each scored two points in the period as the Cruisers worked to generate offense against the Vikings’ defense. Still, Mossyrock’s lead grew to 57-14 heading into the final quarter.

Offense was limited on both sides in the final frame, with each team scoring just two points. Laird scored Eatonville’s lone basket of the quarter, and Mossyrock closed out the game to secure the 59-16 victory.

Laird led Eatonville with six points and added a rebound while going 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Mettler finished with three points, five rebounds and a steal. Green had two points, five rebounds and two steals. Lavergne contributed two points and four rebounds, Price scored two points, and Crowder chipped in one point and four rebounds.

Despite the lopsided score, Caramandi said the focus will remain on growth and accountability as the Cruisers move forward.

“We know our standard and we will get back to it,” she said.

The Lady Cruisers will look to regroup quickly as they close out 2025. Eatonville will finish 2025 with a road game Tuesday, Dec. 30, against the Rainier Mountaineers, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.