Cougars cap perfect season with Class B State Championship
The Central McLean Cougars etched their names into history this past weekend, completing a perfect 28-0 season with a Class B State Championship at the Minot State Dome from March 19 through March 21.
In doing so, the Cougars not only secured the title, but also became the first team across the Underwood, Turtle Lake-Mercer, and McClusky co-op to finish an undefeated season with a state championship, marking a milestone moment for the program and its communities.
The accomplishment stands as one of the most significant achievements in the history of Central McLean athletics and reflects years of steady growth within the program.
Central McLean opened the tournament in dominant fashion March 19 overwhelming No. 8 seed Nelson County in a 68-42 victory.
The Cougars set the tone early, jumping out to a 25-6 lead after the first quarter and never looking back.
Balanced scoring fueled the win as Jase Utley led the way with 17 points, while Bridger Rittenbach added 15.
Aiden Hanson contributed 13 points, Ethan Hanson chipped in 10, and Ty Makeef scored eight.
Jonas Christensen and Chase Kinn rounded out the scoring with two and three points, respectively.
The early cushion allowed Central McLean to control the tempo throughout and rotate players while maintaining pressure on both ends of the floor.