Senior Salute: Eatonville Boys Basketball Honors Graduating Players Amidst Challenging Season
In a challenging matchup for the Eatonville Cruiser boys basketball team, the struggle persisted as they faced their eighth consecutive defeat, succumbing to the Hoquiam Grizzlies 80-63.
Prior to the game, a poignant ceremony unfolded as the team, parents, and fans came together to honor the seven senior players for their contributions to the Eatonville Cruiser program. The seniors, Griffin Clevenger, Isaiah Duncan, Hunter Klumpar, Dylan Norman, Mark Nueva, Favien Pina, and Logan Taylor, were recognized in a pre-game ceremony.
The Eatonville High School basketball seniors posed for a photo with their coaches following the game. Photo: Annie Norman
Despite the ceremonial festivities, the Cruisers found themselves in an early battle as the Grizzlies took an initial lead. However, Favien Pina sparked a glimmer of hope for the Cruisers with a spectacular 4-point play. Pina's three-pointer from the corner, coupled with a successful free throw following a foul, propelled the Cruisers to an early 4-2 lead. The teams traded blows, with Eatonville extending their lead to as much as 9 points in the first quarter. However, a resilient Hoquiam squad closed the gap with a 6-0 run, concluding the quarter at 22-17.
The momentum shifted in the second quarter as Hoquiam orchestrated a 12-0 run, seizing the lead and maintaining control. Outscoring Eatonville 23-8 in the quarter, the Grizzlies entered halftime with a commanding 40-30 advantage.
Eatonville battled to trim the deficit in the third quarter, narrowing it to 8 points before Hoquiam responded with timely three-pointers, pushing their lead back to 14. A subsequent 12-0 run by the Grizzlies closed out the quarter with a substantial 65-44 lead.
Despite an 8-0 run by the Cruisers in the final quarter, Hoquiam's defense proved resilient, securing an eventual 80-63 victory.
Mark Nueva led the scoring for Eatonville with 16 points, supported by contributions from Griffin Clevenger and Isaiah Duncan, each with 12 points.
The Cruisers displayed effective defense against Hoquiam's leading scorer, freshman guard Lincoln Niemi, limiting him to only 2 points in the game. However, this defensive focus opened opportunities for other Grizzlies, with Zander Jump scoring 30 points and Chance LaBounty adding 17.
The rebounding battle proved to be a significant challenge for the Cruisers, as Hoquiam dominated the boards with a staggering 58-22 advantage, including a notable 23-8 edge on the offensive glass. Despite the efforts of Eatonville's seniors, the Grizzlies' prowess ultimately secured the win.
In a season finale showdown on Friday, the Eatonville Cruisers aimed to reverse their fortunes against the Elma Eagles. Despite an impressive career-high performance from Hunter Klumpar, the Cruisers suffered their ninth consecutive loss, succumbing to the Eagles with a final score of 70-52.
The game started on a promising note for the Cruisers, staying competitive with the Eagles and holding an early 7-6 lead. However, Elma swiftly dashed those hopes with a 12-0 run, establishing a comfortable 28-13 lead by the end of the first quarter.
As the Eagles continued to extend their lead, reaching as much as 22 points in the second quarter, the Cruisers managed to close the gap slightly with an 8-0 run, ending the first half at 40-26 with Klumpar led the charge for Eatonville with an impressive 15 points in the first half.
Despite Eatonville's efforts to chip away at the lead, a late 7-0 run by Elma solidified their dominance, heading into the final frame with a commanding 57-38 lead.
In the last quarter, the Cruisers displayed resilience by outscoring the Eagles 14-13. However, the outcome had already been decided, and the Cruisers ultimately fell short with a final score of 70-52.
Klumpar concluded the night with a career-high night. Recording a double-double, 32 points and 10 rebounds, including six successful three-pointers, tying his season-high. Mark Nueva contributed 12 points to the effort.
With this loss, the Eatonville Cruisers conclude their season with a 6-13 overall record and a challenging 0-8 record in league play.
