Bailey Andersen’s sets scoring record

The Eatonville Lady Cruisers basketball team powered through an intense three-game stretch last week, coming away with three decisive wins that underscored their dominance in the 2A SPSL League. Led by standout performances from Bailey Andersen, who recently set a school record and earned WIAA and The News Tribune Athlete of the Week honors, the Cruisers extended their league record to 9-0 and improved to 14-3 overall.

A 24-year-old record fell at Rainier Connect Arena on Jan. 17 as Andersen etched her name in the history books, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer in girls’ basketball. 

In front of a packed house brimming with energy, Andersen surpassed Liz Clark’s record of 1,262 points, which had stood for nearly a quarter century. The historic moment came early in the second quarter of Eatonville’s commanding 56-16 win over rival Orting, as Andersen corralled a Cardinal turnover and finished a layup with 6:15 on the clock.

“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Andersen said after the game. “I still don’t know if it’s fully set in yet.”

The crowd erupted in a standing ovation as play stopped momentarily, after a Cardinal turnover, to celebrate the feat. Andersen’s teammates swarmed her with hugs, and even a few Orting players offered congratulations.

While Andersen’s achievement was the highlight of the night, it was a team effort that propelled the Cruisers to victory. Lillian Bickford delivered a standout performance with a double-double, tallying 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Hailey Hall dominated the boards as well, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding six points.

Head Coach Deanna Andersen, who is also Bailey’s mother, credited the team’s unity and defensive intensity for their success.

“I am so proud of how the girls play as a team,” Coach Andersen said. “While Bailey had a good night, we still feed our other players, and we won the game with Lillian being the top scorer and both Lillian and Hailey having a great game.”

The Cruisers set the tone early, opening the game with a 13-0 run punctuated by a Bailey Andersen three-pointer that ignited the crowd. Eatonville’s defense smothered Orting, forcing 31 turnovers in the game, including nine in the second quarter alone. By halftime, the Cruisers held a commanding 34-10 lead and never looked back, outscoring the Cardinals 22-6 in the second half.

“We’ve taken our defense up a notch, and it’s paying off with lots of girls getting deflections and steals, allowing us to control the tempo of games,” Coach Andersen added.

Bailey Andersen, who finished the game with 16 points, six assists, four rebounds, and six steals, reflected on the significance of the night and the support she’s received throughout her career.

“I am so incredibly grateful for the crowd and community that showed up on Friday,” she said. “It really showed the Eatonville Cruiser spirit. The energy was unmatched, and there’s no better feeling than that.”

Andersen credited her success to the people who have supported her along the way, including her mother, her AAU coaches, and her family.

“My mom has always been my #1 supporter — not only as a coach but as the parent who drove me to every practice and every game,” she said. “I also want to thank my dad, my friends, and especially my grandparents for always being there for me no matter what.”

When asked if she had her sights set on Eatonville’s boy’s all-time scoring record, held by Jordon Osborn at 1,463 points, Andersen didn’t shy away.

“I’ll definitely chase that record as well, but at the end of the day, it’s all about getting the wins and getting to state,” she said. “All the rest is in God’s timing.”

Andersen was quick to emphasize the role her teammates have played in her journey.

“None of this would be possible without my team,” she said. “Over the last four years, they’ve put in so much time and work. I’ve been playing with some of these girls for as long as I can remember, so being where we are now with them has been a dream come true.”

“The love and support in that gym last night for Bailey and the team was amazing,” Andersen said. “What a great community vibe.”

Earlier in the week, on Jan. 14, the Eatonville Cruisers hosted the Clover Park Timberwolves in an exciting matchup that resulted in a decisive 63-50 victory for Eatonville. The game was highlighted by an outstanding performance from Andersen, who delivered a season-best showing and achieved her first-ever triple-double. Andersen lit up the scoreboard with an impressive 31 points, dished out 10 assists to set up her teammates, and dominated the boards with 11 rebounds, showcasing her all-around talent and leadership on the court.

She wasn’t the only Cruiser to make an impact, as Bickford contributed significantly with 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, adding both offensive and defensive power to the team’s efforts. Hall was another key player in Eatonville’s victory, pulling down an impressive 12 rebounds to control the paint and chipping in 8 valuable points to help secure the win.

With their defense clicking and their offense firing on all cylinders, the team is poised to continue their strong season and make a deep run in the postseason.

The Cruisers started last week on the road in Tacoma, facing the Foss Falcons on Jan. 23. Right from the opening tip, Eatonville set the tone with their aggressive defense and precision offense. The first quarter featured a 19-point outburst, highlighted by Andersen’s 9 points and a pair of Jordyn Green three-pointers. By the end of the quarter, Eatonville held a commanding 19-7 lead.

In the second quarter, the Cruisers exploded on a 21-0 run, with Andersen staying hot and pouring in 11 points. Lillian Bickford, Alayna Meyer, and Morgan Laird chipped in with 4 points each during the period, giving Eatonville a massive 48-9 advantage at the half.

Though the offense slowed slightly in the third, Bickford’s 6 points and 6 rebounds helped Eatonville push the lead to 60-13. The fourth quarter was a defensive masterclass, as the Cruisers held the Falcons scoreless to secure the 70-13 victory.

Andersen led all scorers with 23 points, while Bickford recorded a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Alayna Meyer and Jordyn Green each added 8 points, with Hailey Hall chipping in 6 points and 7 rebounds.

"We wanted to make a statement with our defense, and the girls executed beautifully. Holding a team scoreless for an entire quarter is no easy feat, but our focus never wavered. Bailey and Lillian were tremendous, and it was great to see contributions from so many players across the board. Hailey has been so solid and consistent with rebounds, steals, and assists."

Less than 24 hours after dismantling Foss, the Cruisers were back on their home court, hosting the Washington Patriots. Despite the quick turnaround, Eatonville showed no signs of fatigue. The game opened with an electrifying 19-0 run, fueled by Andersen’s 11 first-quarter points. The defense suffocated Washington, forcing turnovers and holding the Patriots to just 2 points in the opening frame as the Cruisers led 29-2.

In the second quarter, Alayna Meyer found her rhythm, scoring 6 of her 8 points during a dominant period that extended Eatonville’s lead to 48-12 at the break. Coming out of halftime, the Cruisers went on a 7-0 run, effectively putting the game out of reach.

The final quarter mirrored the first, as the Eatonville defense locked down and allowed no points while the offense added 14 unanswered to seal the 78-20 victory.

Andersen was again the star of the show, finishing with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Bickford had another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Miley King had a breakout performance with a career-high 9 points. Tia Schanbeck contributed in every facet, recording 6 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals.

"I was so impressed with how the girls responded to the back-to-back challenge. We came out with energy, focus, and purpose. Bailey continues to lead us with her consistency, but tonight was about the depth of this team. Seeing Miley step up and have her best game yet was exciting, and Lillian and Tia’s hustle on both ends of the court made a huge difference."

The Lady Cruisers wrapped up their taxing week by hosting the R.A. Long Lumberjills in a non-league matchup on Saturday. Despite playing their third game in three days, Eatonville showed resilience, overcoming an early 6-0 deficit to dominate the contest. Andersen’s 7 first-quarter points helped the Cruisers rally and take a slim 15-12 lead into the second.

The second quarter was all Eatonville, as Bickford took control in the paint. She scored 9 of her game-high 17 points in the quarter and grabbed 6 rebounds, sparking a 10-0 run that gave the Cruisers a comfortable 39-25 halftime lead.

The third quarter saw the Cruisers put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run, highlighted by Jordyn Green’s two three-pointers. Eatonville led by 23 heading into the final frame, where they closed out with another dominant defensive performance, outscoring R.A. Long 17-5 to win 75-37.

Bickford recorded her third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, capping off an incredible week. Andersen followed closely with 16 points, while Alayna Meyer tallied a season-high 11 points. Schanbeck also posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Green added 10 points, and Hailey Hall continued her rebounding dominance with 9 boards and 7 points.

"This game was a true team effort to close out a tough week on a high note. Having all 10 players contributing on the scoreboard and five of them finishing in double digits shows how balanced and deep this team is. The consistency, work ethic, and energy from everyone on the court made the difference and really set the tone for the game."

Eatonville faces another challenging three-game week, hosting Steilacoom on Jan. 28 and Foss on Wednesday Jan. 29 before heading to Franklin Pierce on Jan. 31.