Lady Cruisers lose 2 of 3, retain second place in league

The Lady Cruisers started out last week by hosting the first-place Montesano Bulldogs on Jan. 25 in hopes of knocking them off and handing them their first league loss.

Unfortunately, this game was like their first meeting with the Bulldogs winning easily, 66-23.

The Lady Cruisers turned things around on Thursday when they headed to Brock Court in Tenino where they defeated the Beavers, 43-27, behind Bailey Andersen's game-high 20 points.

The Cruisers played without starters Bailey and Ryan Stammen as they finished out the week in Orting.

The Cardinals opened up a nine-point lead on the Cruisers entering the second quarter.

The Cruisers chipped away at the lead in the second half to find themselves down by only two points late in the game.

With less than a minute to play and trailing by two, the Cruisers inbounded the ball and dumped it down low to Lillian Bickford, who scored to tie the game.

Orting's Emma Copeland was fouled and headed to the line to shoot two free throws. She missed the first but hit the second to give the Cardinals a one-point lead with 20 seconds to play.

Eatonville had a chance to tie it up and take the lead on free throws with 15 seconds left to play. The two shots were off the mark, however, and Orting rebounded and Copeland was fouled and headed back to the line for two shots. She hit the first to give Orting a two-point advantage but missed the second. Eatonville rebounded the ball but did not have enough time to get off a shot and fell 31-29.

The Lady Cruisers will hold Senior Night on Wednesday at home versus the Hoquiam Grizzlies in a crucial Evergreen Conference matchup. With both teams coming in at 4-2 in league play, the Cruisers need a win to hang on to the second spot in the conference and a home game in the first round of the district playoffs. The game will tip off at 7 p.m.

Eatonville will finish their regular season with a trip to Elma on Friday to take on the Eagles at 7 p.m.

MONTESANO 66, EATONVILLE 23

Eatonville 5 12 2 4 — 23

Montesano 19 21 19 7 — 66

Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 7, Ryan Stammen 4, Ella Gendreau 3, Sara Smith 2, Brook Blocker 2, Lillian Bickford 2, Hailey Hall 2, Alayna Meyer 1.

Montesano: Vanna Prom 18, Jaiden King 15, Jillie Dalan 12, Mckynnlie Dalan 12, Mikayla Stanfield 4, Maia Young 3, Lizzy York 2.

EATONVILLE 43, TENINO 27

Eatonville 5 12 17 9 — 43

Tenino 4 8 8 7 — 27

Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 20, Sara Smith 8, Hannah Kralik 6, Brooke Blocker 4, Lillian Bickford 2, Hailey Hall 2, Sadie Mettler 1.

Tenino: Bri Asay 9, Seaonna Morgan 7, Kiyah Goodwin 5, Brynn Williams 4, Riley Jones 2.

ORTING 31, EATONVILLE 28

Eatonville 4 6 8 11 — 29

Orting 13 5 6 7 — 31

Eatonville: Brooke Blocker 9, Hailey Hall 8, Lillian Bickford 4, Alayna Meyer 2, Hannah Kralik 2, Sadie Mettler 2, Sara Smith 2.

Orting: Emma Copeland 9, Abby Depping 6, Rian Aten 5, R. Elmore 4, Mahela Visperas 3, Ka'iulani Visperas 2, L. Benjamin 2