Cliff Crandall

Usually, when a high scoring prep moves to the collegiate level his point output takes a huge dip. Just the opposite was true in the case of former Astorian Cliff Crandall. Obviously, no slouch on the hardwood while a member of the Astoria High School student body, Cliff had outstanding credentials coming off the Jerome Street campus.

But, it was later, as a four-year lettermen for Slats Gill at Oregon State University that earned Crandall All-America status and helped continue Astoria's proud basketball tradition.

As a junior, Crandall and his AHS teammates were 27-4 and crowned state champions. During his senior season, he led the team in scoring. Only Coach Wally Palmberg's mid-tournament departure at the state tournament would cast a shadow over Crandall's great final season. Astoria won 30 straight games over two years. The 1943 team was 18-0 during the regular season, including a 35-30 victory over the Oregon State Rooks. Individually, Crandall was chosen team captain and added a first team all-state tournament selection to his laurels.

After high school, like many of his teammates, Crandall enlisted in the service for the duration of WWII, before enrolling at Oregon State University in 1945.

Twice named team captain, Crandall held almost every Beaver scoring record until 7-foot-3, Wade "Swede" Halbrook came along in 1954. Crandall was the first Beaver to score over 1,000 points in a career (1,255 to be exact.) As of 1954, Crandall was the all-time single season scorer, holding three of the top eight spots in that category. His 29 points against the University of Oregon Ducks was a series standard until Mel Counts upped the mark in 1964.

At the time of his AHS induction, Crandall still led one OSU all-time list. Over his four seasons at Corvallis, Crandall participated in 126 games.

During his junior and senior years, he was picked to numerous All-America teams. In 1981, both Oregon State and the State of Oregon named Crandall to their Hall of Fames. He also participated in the annual East-West college all-star game at New York's Madison Square Garden.

After his college days, Crandall joined the San Francisco based Stewart Chevrolet AAU club. The 1951 team won the national AAU title. The fledging NBA was just getting off the ground and AAU ball was considered almost an equal at that time. National Hall of Famer Hank Luisetti was Stewart Chevrolet's coach, and future all-pro George Yardley was just one of many top players to team with Crandall.