Top-ranked Cougars end regular season unbeaten
Central McLean completed its regular-season schedule unscathed after pulling away for an 84-64 victory over Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock, Feb. 17, at the Ben Kalberer Gymnasium in Hazelton.
The Cougars, who have been ranked number one in the State Class B Boys Basketball Poll since early January, finished the regular season with a 19-0 record, while LHMB fell to 11-7. Central McLean (Class B District 8) and LHMB (Class B District 2) will both be the top seeds in their respective district tournaments, which tip off this weekend.
LHMB never held the lead, and the game was tied just once (6-6) the entire game, but the Lions stayed within striking distance through the first half, and through most of the third quarter. Brody Richter’s field goal brought LHMB to within 14-13 with just under three minutes left in the first quarter, but CM answered right back with a three-pointer by Ethan Hanson, and then Bridger Rittenbach came up with a steal and got it ahead to Aiden Hanson for a dunk to increase the lead to 19-13.