Crane's girls basketball team had some stumbles along the way this season, but came through when it mattered most Saturday night in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A final at Baker High School.
The third-seeded Mustangs repeated as champion and captured their fifth state title in six seasons – counting the 2021 culminating week event – by thumping No. 1 Union 50-32.
Crane finished the season 25-5 – more losses than in the previous five seasons combined – but left little doubt about its dominance at the state tournament, outscoring its three opponents by an average margin of 18.3 points.
In the championship game, the Mustangs got payback against Union, which ended their 32-game winning streak this season by defeating them 63-52 in a tournament at Union on Dec. 12.
"We came ready to play," Crane coach Tomika Doman said. "That was early in the season. We were more prepared this time around. Union is a tough team, but we worked hard about blocking out, rebounding, and those were big key factors. It also helped today that we came out on fire, hitting our shots. That was huge."
Junior Ava Bowen had 17 points (three three pointers) and seven steals for Crane. Sophomore Kaitlyn Siegner had 15 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and six steals and sophomore Emily Clark added 10 points.
"We just had a little bit of an edge that we wanted to get back," Siegner said. "It's the state championship, you've got to put it all out there, and that's what we did. I think those losses almost in a way helped us. We learned from those losses and grew every game, and here we are."
Said Bowen: "It was hard to come back from so many losses, but it was such a fun season. It was a lot of growth and a lot of hard work and perseverance."
The Mustangs shot 38.5 percent from the field (20 for 52), including 5 of 17 from three-point range. They forced 28 turnovers and committed 13.
Senior Kaelyn Shoemaker had nine points and 14 rebounds and sophomore Taylor Browning made two three-pointers and scored 10 points to lead Union, which shot 30.6 percent (11 for 36).
Union (26-3), the 2A champion in 2022, was within 11-8 after one quarter but fell victim to a massive Crane surge at the start of the second quarter.
The Mustangs reeled off 17 consecutive points to lead 28-8. Bowen scored 10 points during the run, including two three-pointers, and Siegner made a three-pointer and a jumper. The lead grew to 32-11 on a free throw by sophomore Kamryn Dunten.
Crane removed all doubt about the outcome by scoring the first 10 points of the third quarter to lead 42-14. Clark made the first three baskets, and Siegner capped the run with a layup.
The Mustangs pushed their advantage to 50-18 after three quarters before Union outscored them 14-0 in the fourth quarter with the running clock.
Crane's losses this season came against Union, No. 4 Country Christian, No. 5 Jordan Valley and two 3A teams, Amity and Burns. Union's previous losses were to No. 2 Imbler and Country Christian.
jerryu@osaa.org
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