The 1A boys semifinals were Friday at Baker High School.
The 1A boys semifinals were Friday at Baker High School.

No. 1 seed Crane moved one step away from a repeat title by edging No. 5 North Douglas 60-57 in the semifinals of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A boys basketball tournament Friday at Baker High School.

The Mustangs (30-1) jumped to a 14-2 lead and led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter before North Douglas (23-6) rallied to within one point in the fourth quarter, but Crane escaped.

Cody Siegner made 9 of 13 shots and finished with 23 points and nine rebounds for Crane. Carter Nichols added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Mustangs, who shot 53.5 percent from the field, including 8 of 17 from three-point range.

Ray Gerrard had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead North Douglas, which also got 16 points from Logan Gant.

The Warriors pulled within 54-53 on a jumper by Trenton Rabuck with 3:01 remaining. Gant's layup kept North Douglas within 56-55. but Siegner completed a three-point play for a 59-55 lead with 57 seconds to go.

After Gant made another layup to cut the lead to 59-57, North Douglas got the ball back but committed a turnover with 24 seconds to play. Gerrard came up with a steal, but missed a potential tying jumper with 18 seconds to go.

Crane's Nichols split two free throws with 17 seconds remaining for a 60-57 lead, and Gerrard missed a three-pointer with five seconds left.

Crane will play No. 10 Crosshill Christian in the final Saturday night. The Mustangs defeated Crosshill Christian in the semifinals last year.

No. 10 Crosshill Christian 51, No. 3 Open Door Christian 48: The Eagles (23-6) advanced to their first state championship game by repelling the Huskies (23-4) in the other semifinal.

Zack Wilson led Crosshill Christian with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kyler Hemelstrand and Ben Hemelstrand scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, each making three three-pointers.

Open Door Christian, making its first semifinal appearance, got 15 points and four steals from Isaac Van Vleet.

The Huskies trailed 46-40 in the fourth quarter put drew even at 46-46 on back-to-back three-pointers by Preston Tompkins and Van Vleet, the latter with 3:34 left.

Wilson and Ben Hemelstrand each made two free throws to restore Crosshill Christian's lead to 50-46 with 46 seconds left. Isaiah Wolcott's two free throws got Open Door Christian within 50-48, and after the Eagles' Noah Dallum split two free throws to make it 51-48 with seven seconds to go, Van Vleet misfired on a three-point attempt.