Hot shooting and tormenting defense by the Tacoma Baptist Crusaders dealt Evergreen Lutheran a 57-40 SeaTac 2B South Division boys basketball loss Friday.

The visiting Eagles remained in a division third place at 5-5 while dropping to 6-12 overall.

Superb ball movement and high percentage shots set up by the imposing defense put Evergreen Lutheran down, 12-1, in the opening minutes of the game. The Eagles trimmed the disadvantage to seven points, 15-8, at one stage before the Crusaders moved on to a 17-9 lead at the end of the quarter.

With its field goal shooting percentage more frigid than the ice of the Arctic region, Evergreen Lutheran was also prone to turnovers as Tacoma Baptist created a 36-19 halftime lead.

Clawing defense produced five straight Eagle points in the opening of the second half to creep EL within 36-24, but this was the closest Evergreen Lutheran could get.

The energetic Crusaders rode away to a 44-26 margin after three quarters and eventually grabbed a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter before then Eagles closed out the fray with a 6-0 surge.

For Evergreen Lutheran, 6-foot Rolan Wedde worked hard for 21 points and 13 rebounds. Wyatt Weimer added eight points and three steals.
Griffin Lowe and Chris Gladney led the Crusaders with 17 and 16 points, respectively.