Cruiser girls ousted from playoffs; season ends at 13-9

Facing elimination, the Eatonville girls basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Feb. 15 in Montesano as the Cruisers took on the Hoquiam Grizzlies in a loser-out contest in the SWW District 4 playoffs.

In the end, the Cruisers could not tame the Grizzlies, as Hoquiam took the win, 60-36, at Bo Griffith Memorial Gymnasium at Montesano High School.

Eatonville got into foul trouble early and had to sit a few of its starters for long periods, which hampered their offensive production.

After falling behind early in the first quarter, Eatonville could not climb back out of the hole and trailed by 18 at the half, 32-14.

The Cruisers’ offense started to click in the second half, and they matched the Grizzlies with 12 third-quarter points but still trailed by 18 as the teams entered the final period.

Foul trouble hurt the Cruisers even more when two of their starters fouled out of the game midway through the period, and Hoquiam continued to extend its lead and took the win, 60-36.

The loss knocked the Cruisers out of the district tournament and ended their season.

Injuries plagued the Cruisers in the latter half of the season and significantly factored in the team’s losses this year.

Bailey Andersen struggled with dislocated bones in one of her ankles and missed significant time. Sara Smith sustained a season-ending knee injury in a game against Elma at the end of the regular season, and Lillian Bickford broke a finger that required surgery and also ended her season.

The Cruisers wrapped the season with a 13-9 record overall, finished in third place in the 1A Evergreen Conference with a 4-4 record, and were 1-3 in district play. They will lose senior starters Hannah Kralik and Brooke Blocker to graduation and will return a young team.

HOQUIAM 60, EATONVILLE 36

Eatonville  8  6 12 10 — 36

Hoquiam 17 15 12 16 — 60

Eatonville: Bailey Andersen 9, Ryan Stammen 8, Alayna Meyer 7, Hannah Kralik 5, Hailey Hall 4, Brooke Blocker 2, Ella Gendreau 1.

Hoquiam: Chloe Kennedy 23, Graci Bonney-Spradlin 16, Ashlinn Cady 9, Ella Folkers 5, Nadine Stewart 5, Ellie Graham 2.