Cruiser boys basketball drops 2 to open league play

The Eatonville Cruisers boys basketball team opened their 2A SPSL League campaign last week with a pair of challenging matchups, falling 73-65 to the Orting Cardinals on Monday and 74-44 to the Foss Falcons on Wednesday. Despite the losses, Head Coach Josh Bennett expressed optimism about the team’s growth in the early stages of the season.

In a highly competitive home opener, Eatonville battled longtime rival Orting in a game defined by its back-and-forth nature. The Cruisers took a slim 22-20 lead after the first quarter, thanks to a scorching start by sophomore guard Amari Samuel, who poured in 14 points in the opening frame.

Orting responded with a 7-0 run to start the second quarter, seizing momentum and edging ahead 38-36 at halftime. Samuel remained a steady force for Eatonville, adding nine points in the second period to keep the game close.

The third quarter saw the Cruisers mount a comeback, with Samuel continuing his offensive onslaught and guard Lowell McWright knocking down a few crucial three-pointers. A late 5-0 run gave Eatonville a 57-54 lead heading into the final quarter.

However, turnovers and Orting’s clutch shooting derailed Eatonville’s hopes in the fourth. The Cardinals opened with an 11-0 run and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, thanks to a dominant rebounding performance. The Cruisers were unable to recover, dropping their season opener by eight points, 73-65.

Bennett highlighted rebounding as a key factor in the loss. 

“We did not keep them off the glass. Orting had 8 offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone and converted 6 of those for 12 points,” he said. “We win the rebounding battle, we win that game.”

Samuel finished with a game-high 33 points and two rebounds, while McWright contributed 21 points and four boards. Center Nate Goode anchored the defense with 14 rebounds, and forward Nash Sherrard added seven boards of his own.

Despite the defeat, Bennett praised his team’s effort. 

“Beyond proud of the group—energy and effort were there all night. We are really close to putting it all together,” he said. “They are going to continue to grow and learn from these early games.”

Two days later, the Cruisers hit the road to Tacoma, where they faced the Foss Falcons. Eatonville struggled to find an offensive rhythm against a Foss team that utilized its size and speed to dominate the transition game.

Eatonville led briefly in the first quarter, 11-10, before turnovers allowed Foss to close the frame on a 4-0 run. The Falcons extended their lead with a 10-0 run to open the second quarter, building a 30-22 advantage by halftime.

The third quarter proved pivotal as Foss forced numerous turnovers and converted them into a 14-0 run, effectively putting the game out of reach. By the start of the fourth quarter, Eatonville trailed 53-28. 

Samuel again led the Cruisers in scoring, finishing with 14 points. McWright chipped in eight, while Carter Taylor added seven. Goode and Sherrard continued to excel on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds apiece.

Bennett acknowledged the challenges posed by Foss’s size and speed but commended his players for their resilience. 

“It was the first time our group has seen length and size like that. It gave us fits,” he said. “Foss had 44 points in transition — we unfortunately let them play at their pace.”

Despite the scoreline, Bennett noted significant progress in the team’s rebounding effort. 

“The boys did an amazing job not giving up offensive rebounds. Just seven total for the game — I was very proud of them for responding to the coaching staff’s challenge,” he said.

The Cruisers (0-3) are determined to break their three-game losing streak as they prepare for a pair of home games next week. Eatonville hosts the Washington Patriots on Monday, Dec. 16, followed by a matchup against the Steilacoom Sentinels on Thursday, Dec. 19. Both games are set to tip off at 7 p.m.