Photos by DEBBIE RANEY

The Crane girls basketball team celebrates with the Mustang faithful at Baker High School after defeating St. Paul for the 1A championship on Saturday, March 7.

After finishing the regular season undefeated, the Crane girls basketball team took the unblemished season one step further by bringing home the OSAA Class 1A girls state championship with a 45-41 win over defending state champion St. Paul on Saturday, March 7, at Baker High School.

Sophomore Kelsie Siegner led the Lady Mustangs with 17 points, while Riley Davis, a junior, dominated inside, pulling down 17 rebounds, in the victory. Both Siegner (unanimous) and Davis were selected to the All-Tournament First Team, with junior Shelie Doman receiving Second Team honors.

Crane dominated the first quarter, getting out to a 16-3 lead.

St. Paul battled back in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 22-18 at the break.

Siegner hit a basket and a three-pointer to open the third quarter, spurring the Lady Mustangs on to a 37-25 lead going into the final period.

With just over three minutes left in the contest, Crane took a 45-33 lead on a Siegner lay-in. The Buckaroos closed the game on an 8-0 run, but it wasn’t enough as Crane held on for the state title.

Doman finished with eight points, Dani Clark seven, Taelor Hammack and Davis five each, and Laurel Witzel three.

In addition to the state title, Crane was also awarded the Sportsmanship Trophy at the tournament.

Siegner was named the Moda Health Player of the Game for the Lady Mustangs.

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After battling for three quarters, the Crane girls basketball team broke open a close game with Joseph for a 49-36 victory in the semifinal match-up at the 1A girls state basketball tournament on Friday, March 6.

The Eagles got out to a 4-0 lead in the game, only to see Crane go on a 9-0 run and a 9-7 first quarter advantage.

The teams traded baskets throughout the second quarter, but the Lady Mustangs never relinquished the lead and was up 21-18 at halftime.

Joseph took a brief lead with a 5-0 run to open the third period, but Crane answered and was ahead 30-26 going into the fourth quarter.

Leading by five with just under six minutes to play, Crane went on a 9-0 run that pretty much sealed the victory with 1:03 to play.

Siegner finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, and was named the Moda Health Player of the Game for Crane. Hammack and Doman each had nine points, Clark eight, Davis seven, and Witzel two. Davis also finished with 18 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive end.

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Siegner scored 25 points and Clark added 15 to lead Crane to a 64-44 victory over Country Christian in the opening round of the OSAA 1A Girls State Basketball Championship in Baker City.

Clark hit a pair of three-pointers and Siegner added a basket and a three-pointer in the opening minutes of the contest to put Crane up 11-2 on their way to a 22-14 first quarter lead.

Crane went up by as many as a dozen points in the second quarter, and led 35-25 at halftime.

Doman’s basket in the opening minute of the third period put Crane up by 10, and the Mustangs maintained a double-digit throughout the quarter as on their way to a 50-34 advantage going into the final quarter.

The Mustangs then outscored the Cougars 14-10 for the 20-point win.

Doman finished with 10 points for Crane, Davis had eight, Witzel four, and Hammack two.