By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

Holding the Timberwolves to six first half points, the Crane Mustang girls basketball team came up with a big win over Triad, 63-20, on Jan. 2.

The win can be attributed in part to the Mustangs’ stifling defense. As a team, Crane racked up 18 steals, while only pressing a short portion of the first quarter. When the Timberwolves did get a shot up, the Mustangs were there to pull down the defensive rebound, run the court and score.

At the end of the first quarter, Crane had taken a 16-2 lead. At the half, the score was 34-6, and at the end of the third the Mustangs led 52-14.

September O’Crowley recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds (five offensive and five defensive) and 20 points. O’Crowley also picked off six steals and was behind five assists.

Emilee O’Toole put up 14 points for the Mustangs, while getting nine rebounds (five offensive and four defensive).
Rounding out Crane’s scoring was Natalie Bentz with 12, Brooke Nyman had nine, Hannah Buermann scored seven and Savannah Duff made one point.

On the boards, along with O’Crowley and O’Toole’s leading numbers, Buermann grabbed eight total rebounds, with Nyman, Bentz and Brenda Otley pulling down six each and Duff getting four.

The Mustangs will get back into league action this Friday and Saturday, hosting Harper and then Jordan Valley. The game on Friday against the Hornets will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday’s girls game will begin at about 2 p.m., following the boys JV. There will be no junior varsity girls game on either day.

•••

The Crane Mustang boys needed to be at the top of their game last Saturday against the Triad Timberwolves, but unfortunately Crane didn’t have the type of game needed to beat the Timberwolves, and were issued a 58-40 loss.

Triad’s half-court trap defense at the opening of the game had the Timberwolves jumping to an immediate 12-point lead. Once the Mustangs started penetrating, they were getting looks inside for easy shots, and at halftime had pulled back to a three-point game, 27-24.

Triad went on a 14-2 run in the middle of the third quarter, going into the paint, as well as shooting from the perimeter. In spite of blocked shots by Blake Steeves and Pete Joyce, the Mustangs were down by 18 going into the final period.

Ryan Opie, Michael Rothgeb and Steeves picked off a steal each during the fourth, but Triad held onto their lead and took the win.

Hitting four 3-point shots, as well as shots from the paint and charity strip, Opie led the Mustang scoring with 18 points. Cole Maupin put in eight points with Steeves adding seven, Jeran Conaway making four, Royal Henricks got two and Nic Nyman made one.

Steeves pulled down eight rebounds for Crane, with T.J. Potter grabbing four, Conaway and Henricks getting three each and Nyman grabbing one.

Opie picked off five steals to lead the Mustang defense.

Crane will host the Harper Hornets and the Jordan Valley Mustangs this weekend in High Desert League action. Friday’s game will begin at 7:30, following the girls varsity, and Saturday’s will start at about 4:30. There will be a junior varsity boys game on Saturday as well, beginning at 12:30 p.m.