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Central Cass wins NDHSAA Class B GBB Championship

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

MINOT – On Saturday, March 4 Central Cass was playing in its fifth NDHSAA Class B girls basketball state championship game since 2010.

The four previous trips (2010, 2011, 2013 and 2021) the Squirrels fell short in the title game, but at the finale of the 2023 NDHSAA Class B Girls Basketball State Tournament, Central Cass finally broke through and won the big one.

Central Cass defeated Thompson 58-55 in overtime at the Minot State Dome to win the program’s first ever state championship.

Leading the way for the Squirrels was senior guard Decontee Smith who finished the title game with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Smith was voted Tournament MVP following the championship.

Central Cass also got double figure scoring efforts from Klaire Cotton (13 points) and Delaney Cotton (12 points).

The Tommies were led by Addison Sage, who finished the game with 18 points. 

Thompson’s Olivia Dick scored a buzzer beater 3-pointer to send the game to overtime. The Tommies led 55-52 with 2:44 left in the overtime period, but the Squirrels rallied.

Smith hit a free-throw that cut Thompson’s lead to 55-53 and after getting a stop on the other end, Klaire Cotton completed a three-point play to give Central Cass a 56-55 lead. Smith scores the game’s final basket – a putback with 1:27 left in overtime which increased the Squirrels’ lead to 58-55.

Central Cass finished the 2022-23 season with a 23-3 record. Thompson ended the season 24-3. The championship game appearance was Thompson’s first in program history.    

2023 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
(selected by the media covering the tournament)

Klaire Cotton - Central Cass
Mia Gehring - Garrison
Mykell Heidlebaugh - Rugby
Kya Hurst - Thompson
Mataeya Mathern - Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier
Ellie Powell - Bowman County
Addison Sage - Thompson
Decontee Smith - Central Cass
Brenna Stroklund - Kenmare-Bowbells
Josephine Wolf - Rugby

Tournament MVP: Decontee Smith, Central Cass

BOXSCORE: CENTRAL CASS 58, THOMPSON 55

2023 NDHSAA CLASS B GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET

Follow NDHSAA on Twitter at @NDHSAA and visit www.ndhsaanow.com for the latest NDHSAA sports and activities news from around the state.





 

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