The Rainier Mountaineers delivered an impressive performance as they returned from the Christmas break, defeating the Eatonville Cruisers 49-16 in their home gym on Tuesday night.
Rainier established an early lead, finishing the first quarter at 10-2 and extending it to 26-11 by halftime. Their defensive prowess was evident as they managed to hold Eatonville scoreless in the fourth quarter, marking a season-low for points allowed in a quarter.
Freshman Lexi Beckman and sophomore Alexis Myers each contributed significantly, scoring 10 points. Senior Anika Plowman, making her season debut, added nine points, while Courtney Eckroth and Kaysen Bravo chipped in with six points apiece.
Despite the lopsided victory, first-year head coach Jordan Hunt expressed a desire for his team to refine their performance, referring to it as a “sloppy game” following a lengthy 15-day break. “The girls know we have to play cleaner basketball, but we are excited to clean things up and that starts with our conditioning,” Hunt stated. He also highlighted the importance of Plowman”s return, noting, “If we can keep her healthy, she can make a huge difference this season.”
Hunt praised Myers for reaching double digits for the first time this season, saying, “Lexi always brings consistent energy that we need to have as a team.”
The Mountaineers, now holding a record of 4-3, will face a challenging test against Toutle Lake in a non-league matchup on the road Saturday night.
