The Class 1A boys state basketball tournament is underway at Baker High School, and the Crane Mustangs have taken the first step toward making history.

Crane is seeking to become the first Class 1A boys team to win three straight state titles.

The Mustangs beat Union 61-44 in the tournament’s opening game, avenging their only loss this season, on Dec. 7 at Union. Crane improved to 27-1.

Crane’s Cody Siegner led all scorers with 24 points. Carter Nichols added 12, and Josh Zander 10. 

Crane will play Trinity Lutheran, which beat Crosshill Christian 78-33 this afternoon, in a semifinal Friday, March 1 at noon.

Tee Ledbetter led Union with 14 points. Trae Frank had 13 for the Bobcats, 22-8. Union will play Crosshill Christian in a consolation semifinal Thursday at 9 a.m. 

Trinity Lutheran’s Andrew Imhoff scored 40 points, including 30 in the first half on 12 of 17 shooting, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range. The tournament record is 52 points by Arlington’s Jeremy Rosenbalm in 2004.

Crane beat Trinity Lutheran twice earlier in the season, 63-53 and 65-52.

The rest of today’s schedule, all boys quarterfinal games:

• North Douglas 56, Elkton 37

• In the day’s final game, Nixyaawii beat Lost River, 77-62.

Nixyaawii will play North Douglas in the second boys semifinal Friday at 1:45 p.m.

The girls tournament starts Thursday, Feb. 29 with four quarterfinal games:

• Imbler vs. Crane, 1:30 p.m.

• St. Paul vs. Country Christian, 3:15 p.m.

• Echo vs. Powder Valley, 6:30 p.m.

• North Clackamas Christian

vs. North Douglas, 8:15 p.m.