Imbler's Paige Braseth passes the ball during the OSAA 1A state playoff game against Ione/Arlington at Imbler High School on Feb. 21, 2024. Imbler opened strong and secured the win 57-26.

BAKER CITY — The task facing the Imbler girls’ basketball team is actually quite simple — perform a feat no other team has been able to accomplish this season.

The Panthers, currently the ninth-seeded team in the 1A state basketball tournament, meets the top seeded Crane Mustangs in quarterfinal action on Thursday, Feb. 29, in the gym at Baker High School. Game time is 1:30 p.m.

The winner will move on to the semifinals to face either St. Paul or Country Christian.

The last time the Panthers saw quarterfinal action in the state playoffs was 2017. At the time, Imbler was playing in the 2A ranks.

This trip comes after a nail biting 47-45 overtime victory over North Lake/Paisley on Feb. 24. Down by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Panthers’ Paige Braseth hit a shot with seconds to go in regulation to force the game into overtime.

Despite strong free-throw shooting in overtime by North Lake/Paisley, Imbler led the entire overtime period and punched the team’s ticket to quarterfinal play.

Crane meets Imbler riding a 27-0 season record. Led by Kortney Doman, the reigning 1A state player of the year, the Mustangs added weapons around Doman this year with a talented group of freshmen, including Kaitlyn Siegner.

In Crane’s second round, a 69-24 win over Trout Lake/Glenwood, Siegner individually scored 25 points, one more than the entire team of Trout Lake/Glenwood.

The Mustangs are looking to bounce back this season after ending last year’s tournament as runner-up to Damascus Christian in the final game.

The Imbler defense will need to step up as Crane leads all 1A teams in the state in scoring, putting up 1,877 points to date. The total is 425 points better than second-place South Wasco County’s total.