Girls basketball: 18-0 run sparks big Eatonville win

In a dominating performance before the snowfall blanketed the area, the Eatonville Lady Cruisers showcased their prowess on Jan. 9, in a league game against the Tenino Beavers. 

The Cruisers left no room for doubt as they clinched a resounding 54-18 victory, leading by as much as 39 in the final quarter.

The early momentum for the Lady Cruisers was set by Bailey Andersen, who contributed 11 first-quarter points. This stellar performance helped Eatonville establish a commanding 19-5 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Beavers, however, displayed defensive resilience in the second quarter, limiting the Cruiser offense to only 6 points. Lillian Bickford managed to score 4 of those points, and the Beavers outscored Eatonville 7-6 in the quarter, heading into halftime with the Cruisers maintaining a 13-point lead.

Despite Tenino's efforts to stay in the game, the third quarter proved decisive as the Lady Cruiser offense embarked on an impressive 18-0 run. This run propelled them to a 30-point lead heading into the final quarter. 

The fourth quarter mirrored the previous ones, with Eatonville extending their lead to 39 points before securing the victory with a final score of 54-18.

Bailey Andersen emerged as the top scorer, leading both teams with an impressive 22 points. Hailey Hall contributed 8 points, while Lillian Bickford and Sara Smith scored 6 each. Ryan Stammen and Alayna Meyer added 4 points apiece, and Ella Gendreau and Sadie Mettler chipped in with 2 points each.

With this victory, Eatonville's overall record stands at 9-5, and they hold a 1-1 record in league play. Looking ahead, following a pair of games to start the week against Rochester and Elma (results not available at time of publishing), the Lady Cruisers will conclude the week on the road against the Hoquiam Grizzlies on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m.