Central Cass wins Class B boys basketball state championship

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

BISMARCK – It’s been nearly 30 years since a Class B school won both the girls and boys basketball state championship in the school year.

On Saturday, the Central Cass boys basketball team completed the Squirrels’ sweep of the 2023 Class B basketball state championships with a 61-44 win over Shiloh Christian at the Bismarck Event Center.

Two weeks ago on March 4, the Central Cass girls basketball team won the Class B girls basketball state championship and given the school’s boys program spent the final weeks of the season the No. 1 ranked team in Class B the possibility of a sweep started to take root.

The undefeated Squirrels were the No. 1 seed at the state tournament after defeating Kindred in the Region 1 championship game a week ago in Wahpeton.

Leading the way for Central Cass on Saturday was junior center Cole Holzer, who finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots. Central Cass senior guard Sam Kobbervig added 14 points and four assists. Kobbervig was named Tournament MVP following the championship game.

Shiloh led 13-9 after the first quarter, but the Squirrels caught their stride in the second quarter outscoring the Skyhawks 21-10 and posting a 30-23 lead at halftime.

Central Cass out-rebounded Shiloh Christian 36-23.

Caden Englund led the Skyhawks with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Squirrels completed an undefeated 26-0 season with the victory and the state title is the program’s first since 1968. 

BOX SCORE: CENTRAL CASS 61, SHILOH CHRISTIAN 44

2023 NDHSAA CLASS B BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET

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