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Defense keys Crater boys in major triumph Thursday Jan 25, 2018 at 2:00 AM Jan 25, 2018 at 11:03 PM SPRINGFIELD — In a game marked by scrappy defense, it was only fitting that Mason Vranes’ tight ‘D’ in the final moments clinched a monster Midwestern League boys basketball victory for the Crater Comets. Vranes got a hand in Tyson Haas’ face in the final seconds and Haas’ would-be game-winning 3-point attempt was off, as Crater celebrated a 47-45 victory over Thurston. Crater is No. 2 and Thurston No. 3 in the OSAA power rankings. “It was an ugly game, a defensive game,” Crater coach Chris Schmerbach said, “and we were able to grind it out by playing good defense and rebounding.” The victory allowed the Comets (15-5, 5-1 MWL) to take a half-game lead on second-place Springfield in the MWL standings, while Thurston (12-3, 4-2) fell to third. Crater has won five straight since losing its league-opener at Springfield. Kiefer Edwards had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Nathan Bittle nine points and three blocks and Jayden Vranes nine points and two steals to lead the Comets, who saw a seven-point lead trimmed to two late in the fourth quarter. Crater’s Nate Horton hit two free throws to extend the Comets’ lead to four with 29 seconds left. Thurston’s Isaac Lange scored with 13 seconds and the Colts caught a break when Horton missed two free throws at the other end, setting up Crater’s final defensive stand. CRATER (47): J. Vranes 9, Horton 2, M. Vranes 5, Ki. Edwards 20, Stollings 2, Bittle 9, Weaver 0. Totals: 18 6-11 47. THURSTON (45): Minor 7, Powell 4, Connor 4, Lange 14, Miller 10, Haas 6. Totals: 17 10-16 45. Crater;15;9;14;9;—;47 Thurston;10;8;13;14;—;45 3-point goals — Crater 5 (Bittle 3, J. Vranes 1, M. Vranes 1), Thurston 1 (Powell 1). Fouled out — Stallings. JV score — Thurston 57, Crater 50. PAISLEY 53, RV ADVENTIST 47: After leading 22-21 at halftime, Rogue Valley Adventist went cold from the floor and was outscored 15-6 in the third quarter en route to a Mountain Valley League loss against visiting Paisley. Isaiah Christensen scored 15 of his game-high 18 points in the first half, while Marcus Wiggers scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter to go along with eight rebounds for the Red Tail Hawks (8-10, 2-6 MVL), who were outscored 10-3 from the free throw line in the final period. Also for RVA, Michael Covrig pulled down a team-best nine rebounds and Malachi Sitowski added seven rebounds. Girls Basketball CRATER 55, THURSTON 46: At Springfield, Crater shot its best percentage of the season from behind the 3-point arc, finishing 9 of 15, to overcome early foul trouble and inconsistent free throw shooting in the Midwestern League victory. Sydney Gray (16 points, five rebounds, three assists), Lexi Woodard (12 points, 11 rebounds, three assists) and Mackenzie Ryerson (15 points) combined to knock down eight of the nine 3-pointers for the Comets (13-3, 4-2), who have won four of their last five games. After sinking five treys in opening period en route to a 10-point lead, four Crater players picked up three fouls in the first half as Thurston benefited from aggressively driving to the basket and getting to the foul line, draining 16 free throws in the first half to stay within striking distance. The Comets’ bench, however, was able to hold lead with tough defense and effective ballhandling against the Colts (2-14, 1-5), who were led by Megan Miller’s 12 points. CRATER (55): Idiart 3, Van Hook 3, Ryerson 15, Robison 0, Duran-Espino 0, Gray 16, Ellis 3, L. Woodard 12, Young 0, K. Woodard 2. Totals: 17 12-26 55. THURSTON (46): Bradley 2, Birkby 2, Weiss 6, Miller 12, Gilbert 11, Rice 0, Williams 10, Hallett 0, Stevens 1, Norman 2. Totals: 15 14-22 46. Crater;17;9;16;13;—;55 Thurston;7;12;13;14;—;46 3-point goals — Crater 9 (Ryerson 3, Gray 2, Ellis 1, L. Woodard 3), Thurston 2 (Williams 2). JV result — Crater won. RV ADVENTIST 42, PAISLEY 27: Senior post Rose Tovar had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists and Rogue Valley Adventist shot 51 percent from the field in Mountain Valley League action. Madelyn Bennett added 10 points and four rebounds and Savanah Zamora nine points, six rebounds and three steals for the Hawks (16-1, 6-1 MVL), who hit 20 of 39 field goal attempts en route to their fifth straight victory.