Crane girls beat McKenzie in 1A tourney opener

The Crane Mustangs withstood a fourth-quarter McKenzie rally to beat the Eagles 51-44 in the opening game of the Class 1A girls state basketball tournament Wednesday afternoon at Baker High School.

Crane (26-2) led 45-30 after three quarters.

But the Eagles (22-6), from Blue River east of Eugene, scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter to get within 45-42 on Taya Harbick's three-pointer with 1:54 left in the game.

With McKenzie then forced to foul, Crane made 6-of-9 free throws down the stretch.

Natalie Bentz led the Mustangs with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Brenda Otley added nine points, September O'Crowley eight, and Emilee O'Toole seven.

Karissa Harbick scored a game-high 20 points for McKenzie, and Brittany Anderson added 14.

Crane will play the winner of this afternoon's Jewell/Griswold game Friday at 1:30 p.m.

McKenzie will play the Jewell/Griswold loser Thursday at 9 a.m.