A year ago, Crane's boys basketball team earned a spot in the history books by becoming 1A's first three-peat champion.
This week in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A tournament in Baker City, the Mustangs are looking to make an even bigger mark.
With another title, second-seeded Crane (27-0) can join 6A Jesuit (2009-12) and 6A West Linn (2013-16) as the only teams in state history to win four consecutive championships. If that's not enough, a title would extend their winning streak to 57, breaking the mark of 56, set by Oakland (1999-2001).
There's a lot on the line for Crane, but with a senior class that has compiled a four-year record of 118-2, coach Eric Nichols doesn't expect the Mustangs to wilt under the pressure.
“These guys have been in the fire for quite some time,” Nichols said. “They've been through the trials and tribulations. I'm excited to see how they're going to respond. They're going to be fine.”
Unlike the last three tournaments, though, Crane does not enter as the No. 1 seed. That distinction belongs to Mannahouse Academy (26-3), a Portland school that dropped down to 1A this season after making the 2A semifinals last year.
Crane defeated Mannahouse Academy 57-53 on Jan. 3 in a tournament at Salem Academy, the Mustangs' closest game of the season. Crane's Cody Siegner, a 6-foot-7 senior post who has signed with Oregon State football as a tight end, had 26 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
“They're just a well-oiled machine,” Mannahouse Academy coach Ryan Bjornsgard said of the Mustangs. “You've got Siegner, and he's just a man-child in the middle. He really hurt us. He really imposed his will on us. Their supporting cast, I see no weaknesses in them. I just feel like they're better than everybody else. Everybody is chasing them.”
Nixyaawii coach Aaron Noisey, whose team lost to Crane in last year's final, raved about the Mustangs. The third-seeded Golden Eagles (24-3) met Crane on Feb. 8 at Baker, falling 84-60.
“The run they are making is historic,” Noisey said. “As a fan of basketball, you want to see how far it goes. As an opposing coach, I think any opposing coach, you want to see it end, not because you dislike Crane or their kids, but because it means your team is advancing.
“They are so disciplined. They are so patient. They don’t rush anything on either end of the floor.”
For any team to have a chance against the Mustangs, it must find a way to contain Siegner. He is averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 69 percent from the field.
“Cody is such a force,” Noisey said. “Having a kid with his size and athletic ability is hard to game-plan against.”
Mannahouse Academy could have a way to neutralize Siegner in the form of 6-10 senior center Joshua Louka, who missed the January game against Crane with an ankle injury. Nichols is wary of Louka and the Lions.
“Those guys coming down from 2A brings another story with it,” Nichols said. “They shoot the ball really, really well. They've got a big inside who's a big defensive presence. They play various defenses, so they always throw some curveballs and sliders at you. They keep you on your toes. I hope we get to see them again just to kind of complete the story.”
A look at the match-ups for the boys and girls tournaments, which conclude with the finals Saturday:
Boys quarterfinals, Thursday, Baker HS
No. 8 Dufur (22-6) vs. No. 1 Mannahouse Academy (26-3), 1:30 p.m.: Mannahouse Academy has won 98 games in the last four seasons, reaching the 2A quarterfinals in 2023 and 2A semifinals last year. The Lions won the 1A title in 2013, when they were known as City Christian. Senior F Caleb Dickinson (6-1), the Valley 10 League MVP, averages 12.0 points. A fourth-year varsity player, Dickinson is 23 points shy of 1,000 in his career. Senior F Joshua Louka (6-10) and senior PG Nolan Schweiss (5-11) -- who began their careers at Centennial and Jesuit, respectively – also made the Valley 10 first team. Louka averages 15.4 points and Schweiss is at 13.8. The Lions' only losses have come against teams ranked No. 1 in the OSAAtoday coaches polls – Crane (1A), Western Christian (2A) and Westside Christian (3A) – by a combined 17 points. Mannahouse Academy won at Dufur 71-21 on Dec. 23. Dufur has made the tournament for the first time since 2002, two years after coach Hollie Darden guided the Rangers to their only state title. Senior Jacob Kent (13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds) made the Big Sky League first team. Senior Nolan Cates (10.2 points) is a football standout, rushing for more than 1,500 yards last season.
No. 5 North Douglas (24-3) vs. No. 4 Sherman (23-5), 3:15 p.m.: A rematch from last year's round of 16, when North Douglas knocked out Sherman 69-60. North Douglas, unbeaten against 1A teams, enters on a 19-game winning streak. The Skyline League champion Warriors made the semifinals the last two years. Senior Jayden Montgomery (24.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 4.0 steals) is having a big season. He is getting plenty of help from junior Hunter Vaughn (19.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 6.0 steals, 3.5 blocks), who had 28 points in the round of 16. Vaughn is a star football player, setting state eight-man state records for all-purpose yards (3,893) and rushing touchdowns (45) last season. Sherman has made the tournament for the first time since 2019. The Huskies' coach, Max Martin, played on their state title teams in 2016 and 2017. Seniors Gabe Fritts (14.0 points, 8.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds) and Jamie Phelps (18.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals) made the Big Sky League first team. Sherman has won 20 of its last 21 games, the only blemish a 43-42 loss to Union on Feb. 17.
No. 6 Country Christian (21-7) vs. No. 3 Nixyaawii (24-3), 6:30 p.m.: Nixyaawii defeated Country Christian 74-52 in the 1A Preview tournament Dec. 12.. Country Christian is back in the tournament for the first time since winning its only title in 2015. The Cougars played a competitive game against Crane, losing 66-56 on Dec. 14. They are led by junior Tyson Smith (15.0 points, 4.0 assists), a Valley 10 first-team pick. Smith scored 24 against Crane and made eight three-pointers against North Clackamas Christian. Juniors Danyon Schneider and Blake Halverson and sophomore Ryan Gordon are averaging near 10 points per game. Nixyaawii won the 2019 title and finished first in the 2021 culminating week tournament. The Golden Eagles made the final last year, losing to Crane 65-51. They have the Old Oregon League player of the year in senior Symon Picard (21.5 points, 2.9 assists, 2.6 steals) – who passed 1,500 career points Saturday -- and two other first-team picks in seniors Rylen Bronson (14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.0 steals) and Weptas Brockie (11.0 points, 49 three-pointers).
No. 10 Days Creek (20-7) vs. No. 2 Crane (27-0), 8:15 p.m.: The teams met in the 1A Preview tournament Dec. 13, with Crane prevailing 65-41. Three-time reigning champion Crane has won 54 consecutive games. The Mustangs feature 6-7 senior P Cody Siegner (23.0 points, 11. rebounds, 69 percent field-goal shooting), 6-5 senior F Josh Zander (14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals) and 6-0 senior G Casse Roozeboom (11.0 points, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals), all first-team district tournament selections. Days Creek, which has never won a title, last appeared in the tournament in 2019. The Wolves fell to North Douglas 60-41 in the Skyline League playoffs before winning two state playoff games. They are much improved after going 13-13 last season. Senior F Keegan Stufflebeam (6-5), who put up 46 points and 24 rebounds in two state playoff games, is averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. Junior G Xane Hopkins (11.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 steals) and 6-2 junior F Camden Stufflebeam (10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds) are consistent contributors.
Girls quarterfinals, Wednesday, Baker HS
No. 9 Echo (22-6) vs. No. 1 Union (24-2), 1:30 p.m.: The Old Oregon League teams did not meet in the regular season, but Union edged Echo 55-53 in the district tournament Feb. 21. Union, which won the 2A title in 2022, lost in the state playoffs the last two seasons. Bobcats senior Kaelyn Shoemaker (16.0 points, 16.0 rebounds) is the Old Oregon player of the year. Sophomore Sawyer Shoemaker (8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals) is first-team all-league. Union has played the last month without senior starter Paisley Miller (10.0 points, 6.0 rebounds), who broke her foot. Sophomore starting guard Taylor Browning has played the last few weeks after missing two months with a broken leg. Echo has returned to the tournament despite graduating four starters from last year's quarterfinal team and playing for a first-year coach in JR Ramos, who was promoted from assistant to replace Brandi Russell. The Cougars are winning with balance and depth, going nine deep. Junior Kenzie Hendrix (5-8) is the only returning starter. Hendrix and sophomore Jaycee Campbell (5-10) made the Old Oregon first team. Campbell (9.1 points, .5.9 rebounds) leads the team in scoring, with four other between 7.0 and 8.0 points per game. Echo's only title came in 1981.
No. 5 Jordan Valley (24-3) vs. No. 4 Country Christian (23-5), 3:15 p.m.: Jordan Valley won at Country Christian 56-48 in a nonleague game Jan. 25. The Mustangs have won 22 of their last 23 games, the only setback during that span a 53-40 loss to Crane. Jordan Valley has lost in the quarterfinals in its last five state tournament appearances, four times since 2018. Of the 13 girls that attend Jordan Valley, eight are on the team. Senior Kenzie Tuttle (14.0 points) was the High Desert League defensive player of the year. Junior Jalee Maestrejuan (16.0 points) and senior Meg Eiguren (14.0 points) made the first team. Eiguren made four three-pointers and scored 22 points in the round of 16. Country Christian, the champion in 2016 and 2018, is in the final eight for the 11th time in 12 seasons, counting the 2021 culminating week event. The Cougars lost in the quarterfinals the last two years. They have the Valley 10 player of the year in junior G Emma Seubert (8.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists) and a first-team selection in junior F Cara Mulhern (9.0 points, 10.0 rebounds). Coach Russell Halverson, in his 22nd year with the team, plans to retire after next season.
No. 6 North Douglas (23-4) vs. No. 3 Crane (22-5), 6:30 p.m.: A rematch of last year's final, won by Crane 59-39. Counting the 2021 culminating week tournament, Crane has appeared in the last five finals, winning four. The Mustangs are led by junior F Kaitlyn Siegner (19.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.2 steals, 5.2 assists). The 5-10 Siegner also was integral in Crane winning the 1A volleyball title the last two years. Junior Ava Bowen (8.6 points, 2.5 steals) was a starter last season, and sophomores Emily Clark (11.0 points, 3.0 steals) and Kamryn Dunten (9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals) have stepped up to play bigger roles than a year ago. Crane went 130-3 the last five seasons, but has dropped five games this season, including three to 1A foes in Union, Country Christian and Jordan Valley. In each of the last 12 full seasons, North Douglas has won at least 20 games, but did not make the final until last year. The Warriors have a dynamic senior PG in Brooklyn Cyr (22.0 points), who has scored 99 points in the last three games. The daughter of coach Jody Cyr, she is the three-time Skyline League player of the year. Senior F Jayln Nash also made the Skyline first team and was the league's defensive player of the year. North Douglas returned two starters from last season, but with 10 new players, has made steady improvement. The Warriors' only 1A loss came against North Clackamas Christian, 52-42.
No. 7 North Clackamas Christian (22-5) vs. No. 2 Imbler (22-4), 8:15 p.m.: Both teams are back after losing in the quarterfinals last year. Imbler, which went 1-20 five years ago, has its most wins since 2011, the year after winning its second state title. The Panthers have not lost to a 1A team. Senior W Rachael Stirewalt (13.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.0 steals) is the Old Oregon player of the year. Freshman G Olivia Haddock and junior P Paige Braseth also made first-team all-league. Braseth has not played in the postseason due to a knee injury. Senior G Paiten Braseth has helped pick up the slack, scoring 26 points in two playoff games. Five of the Panthers are cousins: Haddock and twin sister Whitney, senior Jayda Cant and sophomore Jeytt Cant, and sophomore Josephine Bingaman. North Clackamas Christian has never made a state final. The Saints, who last year made the quarterfinals for the first time since 1999, have their most wins since 1998. They lost twice to Country Christian in Valley 10 play but defeated the Cougars 41-37 in the league playoffs. Sophomore twins Kaylee Turner (17.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.0 steals) and Keslynn Turner (15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 4.0 steals) made first-team all-league.
jerryu@osaa.org
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