by Lindy Williams
Burns Times-Herald

The Crane Mustangs girls basketball squad took on the Grant Union Prospectors on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The Prospectors won the game, 45-26.

Grant Union jumped to an early lead in the first quarter and never let the Mustangs gain the upper hand. At the end of the first quarter, the Prospectors led 12-6.

Crane continued to trail, but matched the Prospectors with four points apiece, in the low-scoring second quarter. At halftime, Grant Union still held the lead at 16-10.

After halftime, both teams kicked up their scoring efforts and the Prospectors lengthened their lead. At the end of the third quarter, Grant Union led 34-22.

The fourth quarter ended with the Prospectors lengthening their lead to 45-26.

Savannah Maupin led the Mustangs with nine points. She was followed by Riley Davis with six, Shelie Doman with five, and Elizabeth Jenkins and Risa Thompson with three each.

Davis led the Mustangs in steals with four, followed by Maupin with two.

Davis also led the rebounding effort for Crane with 17, while Doman snagged four.

For assists, Davis, Kaylee Carson, and Doman all had two apiece.

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The Mustangs then traveled to La Grande for the Old Oregon League/High Desert League Crossover Tournament. During the first round of the tournament on Friday, Dec. 8, Crane took on the Nixyaawii Eagles. The Eagles won the game 63-39.

Nixyaawii jumped to an early lead in the game and after the first quarter, held a commanding 21-11 lead. The Eagles held the lead the entire game.

At halftime, Crane trailed 43-23, and a slow third quarter by both teams left the score at 50-28, with the Eagles leading.

Nixyaawii increased their lead in the fourth quarter, leaving the score at 63-39.

For the Mustangs, Jenkins led the scoring charge with 12 points. She was followed by Davis with 11, Doman with eight, Carson with six, and Maupin with two. Jenkins also led in steals with two.

Davis was the Mustangs lead rebounder with 13. She was helped by Maupin, who had four, and Doman, who grabbed three.

Doman had the most assists for the night with five, followed by Davis, Maupin, and Jenkins, who all had two apiece.

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On Saturday, Dec. 9, Crane took on the Joseph Eagles, and lost 44-20.

The two teams were evenly matched until halftime, and Joseph held a slight 19-13 lead when the third quarter started.

The Eagles pulled further ahead in the third quarter, and held a comfortable 39-17 lead when the fourth quarter stared.

Joseph held their lead to the end of the game, and finished with a 44-20 win.

Davis was the Mustangs’ lead scorer with eight points. She was followed by Maupin, who had seven, Thompson and Jenkins with two apiece, and Laurel Witzel with one.

Jenkins led the squad in steals with five, followed by Carson and Doman with two apiece.

Davis was the Mustangs’ lead rebounder with eight, followed by Jenkins with three.

Jenkins also led in assists with two.

The Mustangs next contest will take place during the Alycia Jenkins Memorial Tournament in Crane, Dec. 15-16. Crane will take on Mitchell/Spray on Friday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m.

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The Crane Union High School boys basketball squad took on the Grant Union Prospectors on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in Crane.

The Prospectors won the game, 68-55.

Grant Union held a slight lead the first half, but Crane did not let the Prospectors distance themselves. At the end of the first quarter, Grant Union led 15-13, and at halftime, led 33-31.

During the third quarter, Grant Union lengthened their lead to 60-42. The game ended with a 68-55 win by the Prospectors.

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The Mustangs then traveled to the Old Oregon League/High Desert League Crossover in La Grande, Dec. 8-9.

On Friday, Dec.8, Crane took on the Nixyaawii Eagles. The Eagles won 78-40.

Saturday, Dec. 9, the Mustangs faced the Joseph Eagles and were handed another loss, 52-47.

The Mustangs next games will be on Dec. 15-16, at the Alycia Jenkins Memorial Tournament in Crane.

Crane will first play Mitchell/Spray on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.