Hutchings has a career night against Orting

Eatonville High School senior Peyton Hutchings always looks forward to the rivalry games against Orting, but she was nervous coming into the game against the Cardinals on Jan. 14. 

It didn't show.

Hutchings proceeded to drop a career-high 28 points on the Cardinals that night. She was six for six from beyond the 3-point line and only missed three shots all night. It was a treat to watch for all Eatonville Cruiser fans.

"It was such a fun game," Hutchings said. "I am so thankful for my amazing teammates. It was a night to remember."

She scored 17 points in the first half with five 3-pointers to help the Cruisers jump out to a 44-19 lead over the Cardinals.

The second half brought much of the same. The Cruisers extended the lead to 61-31 at the end of the third quarter and took the win with a score of 74-44.

Hutchings led the way for the Cruisers with her 28 points. Eighteen of those points came from beyond the 3-point arc where she was six for six on the night. Freshman Kya Stewart chipped in 12 of her own with 10 of those points coming in the second half.

Coming off a great win against rivals Orting, Eatonville would host No. 10 ranked in the state and first place in league White River on Jan. 16, looking to avenge their only league loss the Hornets handed them earlier in the season.

The Cruisers started out strong and went toe to toe with the Hornets. At the end of the first quarter, the Cruisers trailed 16-13. 

Hutchings, battling a cold she came down with after the Orting game, hit two 3-pointers in the quarter to help keep the Cruisers close.

The Hornets offense turned it up a notch in the second quarter and never looked back for the rest of the night. They led 40-26 at the half. 

The Hornets' defense kept the Cruisers scores for the quarter in the single digits in both the third and fourth quarters to take the eventual win, 69-43.
Hutchings led the Cruisers with 13 points in the night.

The Lady Cruisers ended the week traveling to Franklin Pierce to take on the Cardinals in a crucial league matchup. Eatonville had beaten the Cardinals earlier in the season 51-36. The Cruisers came into the game with an 8-2 league record with Franklin Pierce coming in at 7-3.

The first half was dominated by the Cardinals. They led the Cruisers 11-7 after the first quarter and poured it on in the second quarter. They held the Cruisers to only 4 points in the quarter to take a 26-11 lead into the half.  Eatonville had to regroup to get back in the game during the second half.-

Unfortunately, the Cruisers were not able to rally in the half and lost the game with a score of 48-35. This loss dropped them into a tie with the Cardinals for second place with only two games left in the regular season. The next two games will be crucial for the Cruisers to secure a higher top seed heading into the district playoffs.