A tiny Oregon town will try to further burnish its basketball dynasty when the Class 1A state tournament tips off this week at Baker High School.

Crane, the Harney County community that includes Oregon’s only public boarding school, has dominated the state tournament since 2020. Crane, which is about 30 miles southeast of Burns, has a population around 150.

The Crane boys have won the past three state titles, the only Class 1A boys team to achieve that feat. The Mustangs are the second seed in this year’s tournament, which starts Thursday, March 6, and continues through Saturday, March 8.

(The four girls’ quarterfinal games are on Wednesday, March 5.)

In 2022, Crane became the first Class 1A school to win both girls and boys hoops titles in the same season. It was the school’s first boys basketball title.

The Mustangs repeated that feat in 2024.

They fell two points short in 2023, as the girls lost 35-33 to Damascus Christian in the championship game.

Boys

Crane has amassed a record of 118-2 over the past four seasons, including 27-0 this season. The Mustangs have won 54 straight games.

Crane plays Days Creek in a quarterfinal game Thursday at 8:15 p.m.

On the opposite side of the bracket is top seed Mannahouse Academy of Portland, which is 26-3 overall and playing its first season in Class 1A after finishing third in the Class 2A state tournament in 2024. Crane and Mannahouse played Jan. 3 in a tournament in Salem, with the Mustangs winning 57-53. Mannahouse’s two other losses are 57-49 to Westside Christian, the top-ranked Class 3A team, and 50-45 to Western Christian, the top-ranked Class 2A team.

The third seed is Nixyaawii, 24-3 on the season. The Golden Eagles also played Mannahouse Academy, losing 50-41 on Dec. 21. Nixyaawii’s two other losses are 57-54 to Umatilla, the eighth-ranked Class 3A team, and 84-60 to Crane on Feb. 8, a nonleague game played at Baker High School.

Nixyaawii was the state runner-up in 2024, losing 65-51 to Crane in the championship game.

The Mustangs’ head coach is Eric Nichols, a 1995 Baker High School graduate. One of Nichols’ assistant coaches, Dave Toney, is also a BHS graduate, class of 1980.

Nichols’ son, Carter, was the starting point guard on all three of Crane’s championship teams. Carter Nichols graduated in 2024. He was the only senior on the 2024 title team.

Girls

Crane has won three of the past four state titles, in 2020, 2022 and 2024, with the runner-up finish in 2023.

(There was no state tournament in 2021 due to the pandemic.)

The Mustangs are the third seed in this year’s tournament, entering with a 22-5 record.

Crane plays North Douglas in a quarterfinal Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Class 1A state basketball tournaments

All games at Baker High School

GIRLS

Quarterfinals: Wednesday, March 5

Echo vs. Union, 1:30 p.m.

Jordan Valley vs. Country Christian, 3:15 p.m.

North Douglas vs. Crane, 6:30 p.m.

North Clackamas Christian vs. Imbler, 8:15 p.m.

Consolation semifinals: Thursday, March 6

Echo/Union loser vs. Jordan Valley/Country Christian loser, 9 a.m.

North Douglas/Crane loser vs. North Clackamas Christian/Imbler loser, 10:45 a.m.

Semifinals: Friday, March 7

Echo/Union winner vs. Jordan Valley/Country Christian winner, 1:30 p.m.

North Douglas/Crane winner vs. North Clackamas Christian/Imbler winner, 3:15 p.m.

Fourth place: Saturday, March 8

Consolation semifinal winners, 8 a.m.

Third place: Saturday, March 8

Semifinal losers, 11:30 a.m.

Championship: Saturday, March 8

Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m.

BOYS

Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 6

Dufur vs. Mannahouse Academy (Portland), 1:30 p.m.

North Douglas vs. Sherman, 3:15 p.m.

Country Christian vs. Nixyaawii, 6:30 p.m.

Days Creek vs. Crane, 8:15 p.m.

Consolation semifinals: Friday, March 7

Dufur vs. Mannahouse Academy (Portland) loser vs. North Douglas vs. Sherman loser, 9 a.m.

Country Christian vs. Nixyaawii loser vs. Days Creek vs. Crane loser, 10:45 a.m.

Semifinals: Friday, March 7

Dufur vs. Mannahouse Academy (Portland) winner vs. North Douglas vs. Sherman winner, 6:30 p.m.

Country Christian vs. Nixyaawii vs. Days Creek vs. Crane winner, 8:15 p.m.

Fourth place: Saturday, March 8

Consolation semifinal winners, 9:45 a.m.

Third place: Saturday, March 8

Semifinal losers, 1:15 p.m.

Championship: Saturday, March 8

Semifinal winners, 8:45 p.m.