Montgomery Cougars Make History

By Nicholas Mistretta – MHS ’79
Cougar Sports Correspondent

In a display of dominance that left fans and opponents alike in awe, the Montgomery High School Cougars secured a decisive 62-32 victory over the Lenape Indians in the Group 4 state semifinals on March 12, 2025, at Central Regional High School in Bayville. This win propels the Cougars (25-5) to their first-ever state title appearance, a historic milestone for the program. They will face Plainfield High School in the Group 4 finals on Sunday at Jersey Mike’s Arena on the Rutgers University campus. From the opening whistle, Montgomery asserted control. After Lenape’s initial basket, the Cougars embarked on a 19-1 run, establishing a commanding 25-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. They maintained this momentum, heading into halftime with a 39-5 advantage. Christian Hill led the charge with a game-high 18 points, 15 of which came in the first half, including four three-pointers. Ethan Lin contributed 11 points, highlighted by a buzzer-beating, off-balance three-pointer to end the first quarter. Bohdan Biekietov also added 11 points, rounding out the Cougars’ double-digit scorers. Defensively, Montgomery was impenetrable. The team’s size and agility, particularly from forwards Biekietov and Kyryl Streltsov, disrupted Lenape’s offensive flow, limiting them to just one field goal in the first half. Leading scorer Mehki Carter struggled to find his rhythm, managing only nine points. This victory extends Montgomery’s win streak to seven games, with all but one win coming by at least 19 points, underscoring their dominance throughout the tournament. As the Cougars gear up for their historic state finals matchup at 6:00 PM on Sunday at Rutgers University, excitement is building within the community. Fans can purchase tickets and parking passes in advance to witness the historic game.