Back

OSAAtoday

Menu
No. 1 Mustangs follow their boys' three-peat by topping No. 2 North Douglas 59-39 for their fourth championship in five seasons

March 2, 2024 by Jerry Ulmer, OSAAtoday
Crane pulled away from North Douglas in the third quarter Saturday night to win the 1A championship at Baker High School.
Crane pulled away from North Douglas in the third quarter Saturday night to win the 1A championship at Baker High School.

Crane's girls basketball team finished off a season of dominance with another convincing victory Saturday night.

The No. 1-seeded Mustangs turned away No. 2 North Douglas 59-39 in the final of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A tournament at Baker High School to complete a 30-0 season.

It is the fourth title in five seasons for Crane and comes one year after the Mustangs fell to Damascus Christian by two points in the championship game. They are 130-3 in the last five seasons, with all three losses coming against Damascus Christian, which did not field a team this year.

"We were consistent," Crane coach Tomika Doman said of her team's season. "As long as we were consistently good, I was fine with it. ... We missed out on a four-peat last year by a couple points, but it's good to have it back."

In Saturday's win, Crane went on a 14-0 run in the third quarter to break open a close game against the Warriors (27-4), who were seeking their first state championship.

Kaitlyn Siegner, a 5-foot-10 freshman, led the Mustangs with 29 points and 16 rebounds. She shot 8 of 20 from the field, including 6 of 10 from three-point range, and made 7 of 13 free throws. She averaged 21.4 points and 9.5 rebounds this season.

"For anybody to do what she's done, but for a freshman, yeah, it's like 10 times incredible," Doman said. "She was amazing all season, consistent. She could hit from anywhere. She pulls through when we need it, just like she showed tonight. She's an all-around player who can play inside and outside and do it all."

Siegner followed an outstanding performance by her junior brother, Cody, who earlier Saturday night scored 23 points to help lead Crane's boys to a third consecutive 1A championship. Crane swept the boys and girls titles at the tournament for the second time in three seasons.

Freshman Taya Nelson had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists and senior point guard Kortney Doman had 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists for Crane.

The lead changed hands six times in the first quarter, which ended with Crane ahead 12-11. Siegner made a three-pointer and Nelson hit a jumper as the Mustangs broke a tie and took a 27-22 lead in the second quarter, but North Douglas pulled even at 27-27 on a three-pointer by Brooklyn Cyr early in the third quarter.

After the Warriors drew within 30-29 after a jumper by Brooke McHaffie, Crane seized control with a 14-0 run. Siegner scored six points, Doman four points and Nelson and Ava Bowen two points each in the surge, which gave the Mustangs a 44-29 lead late in the third quarter.

"I think we were just making better decisions, and getting some calls going our way," Tomika Doman said. "Hitting our big shots, being a little more patient, playing tough, just like we've been doing."

When Siegner made a three-pointer with 5:44 left in the game, the lead had ballooned to 51-33.

Crane won by an average of 40.8 points per game this season. North Douglas gave the Mustangs their two closest games, losing 69-56 on Feb. 5 and by 20 points Saturday.

"I was a little nervous for today," Tomika Doman said. "They're a very talented team, very well coached."

McHaffie had 16 points and five rebounds to lead North Douglas. Cyr added 11 points, shooting 4 for 21 from the field, including 2 of 12 on three-pointers.

Tomika Doman, Kortney's mother, won a championship in her first season as the team's head coach. She replaced Stub Travis, who went 570-154 with four state titles in 28 seasons with the Mustangs, No. 6 on the state's career wins list.

"It was awesome," Tomika Doman said. "Being a head coach really wasn't my thing, and it's hard for me coaching my own kid. I missed out on some mom moments, cheering in the stands. But for me to be a part of it with her, it's pretty incredible."

Considering Kortney Doman is the only senior on the roster, the Mustangs are in position to chase another title next season. But they will miss Doman, the 1A player of the year last season and the co-player of the year as a sophomore. She also was the 1A volleyball player of the year last season in leading Crane to its first state title.