Osborn, Kralik lead Cruisers To Key Home Win Over Foss
- Skip Smith
- 47 minutes ago
- 5 min read
After a tough 7 game stretch, the Cruisers snapped their 7 game skid with an exciting win on Friday night over the Foss Falcons.
Eatonville picked up the much needed victory on Jan. 23 at home, holding off Foss 55-52 after dropping the first meeting between the teams earlier this season, 55-39.
The Cruisers got off to an energetic start behind Sam Kralik, who made his first varsity start. Kralik opened the scoring with a drive to the basket and later added another on a similar move to give Eatonville an early 4-2 lead. The teams traded runs through the rest of the quarter, with Eatonville briefly leading 11-9 on a Jake Brannon short jumper. Foss closed the opening period with a pair of three pointers to take a 15-11 lead. Kralik’s four points paced the Cruisers in the first.
The second quarter featured steady back and forth play as Eatonville slowly chipped away at the Falcon lead. The Cruisers scored one more point than Foss in the period but still trailed 28-25 at halftime. Jeremy Osborn, Nash Sherrard and Kralik each scored three points in the quarter.
Foss pushed its lead to five early in the third before Eatonville responded with a 4-0 run to make it 32-31. After a pair of Falcon free throws, the Cruisers surged ahead with a 5-0 run to take a 36-34 lead. Foss answered back and went up 41-38 late in the quarter, but senior Colton Herbrand changed the momentum. Returning after missing the previous game and the first half while recovering from illness, Herbrand came up with a steal and drove for a layup to cut the deficit to one. He then knocked down two three pointers in the final seconds as Eatonville closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to lead 44-40. Herbrand scored all eight of his points in the period.
Eatonville took control early in the fourth, opening with an 8-1 run fueled by a pair of Osborn three pointers to build an 11 point lead. Foss responded with an 8-0 run to pull within three, 52-49. Osborn hit two free throws to push the lead back to five before Foss drilled a three pointer with 10 seconds remaining to make it 54-52. After a timeout, the Falcons fouled Kralik following the inbounds. Kralik hit the back end of two free throws to extend the lead to three. Foss got a clean look at a tying three with 7.8 seconds left, but the shot rimmed out and Sherrard secured the rebound to seal the win.
Osborn led all scorers with 18 points, including 14 in the second half and eight in the fourth quarter. Kralik finished with a career high 10 points and five rebounds. Herbrand added eight points off the bench, all in the third quarter. Sam Twedt chipped in six points, five rebounds and three steals. Ryder Herbrand had eight rebounds and five points, while Brannon added five points and seven boards.
Head coach Josh Bennett credited the atmosphere and his team’s preparation.
“What an amazing Friday night of hoops in our gym,” Bennett said. “I have to first give a huge shout out to the Eatonville Community for showing up. Our fans are so special and make our home games easily the greatest atmosphere in our league. From the student section, to the parents, to the community members, thank you for all the support.”
“Coming out with a win was so special for our kids,” he added. “Our process and preparation allowed us to get this win together as a team. We had an unbelievable day of practice the day before and the guys were fully bought in. They executed our plan perfectly and I am beyond proud of them.”
“Our offense was flowing, and we were talking on defense. Those two things alone will keep you in games,” Bennett said. “Everybody stepped up. They played so hard and there were so many moments in this game that were special moments. Our coaching staff talked after the game and we were in such awe that we were able to be in the gym with this team for those moments. They are an awesome group of kids.”
Earlier in the week, Eatonville struggled on Jan. 20 in a home loss to Orting, falling 70-36. The Cardinals had also won the previous meeting 52-28.
Orting seized control early, opening the game on an 8-0 run. The Cardinals forced seven Eatonville turnovers in the first quarter and limited the Cruisers to six points, all by Ryder Herbrand, to lead 14-6 after one.
The second quarter followed a similar script. Orting opened with another 8-0 run as Eatonville’s offense sputtered. Osborn scored five points and Kralik added two, but the Cardinals closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 37-13 lead at the break.
Eatonville showed more life offensively in the third, scoring 12 points after managing just 13 in the entire first half. Following an early Orting basket, the Cruisers went on a 6-0 run to cut into the lead. The Cardinals regained control late, closing the quarter on a 13-2 run to lead 58-25. Ryder Herbrand scored four points in the period, while Sam Twedt and Kralik added three each.
The teams played an even fourth quarter, with Orting outscoring Eatonville 12-11 to close out the game. Osborn scored five points in the final period, while Kralik added four.
Osborn led Eatonville with 11 points. Ryder Herbrand finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots. Kralik posted a career high eight points and eight rebounds.
Bennett pointed to Orting’s physicality as a major factor.
“Orting has their identity,” he said. “They are super physical and they have great size. They are a tough matchup for us, and if you are not keeping them off the glass it’s a tough night for anyone.”
Despite the loss, Bennett was encouraged by the experience gained.
“Super proud of our team,” he said. “A lot of guys stepped up and played some very meaningful varsity minutes this game. Grateful, and excited to see what this group can do the rest of the season.”
Eatonville returns home this week with two more 2A SPSL League games at Rainier Connect Arena. The Cruisers host the Washington Patriots on Tuesday, Jan. 27, and the Steilacoom Sentinels on Friday, Jan. 30. Both games tip off at 7 p.m.
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