CORTEZ – When Mike Hall’s Panthers broke preseason camp in November, the message was clear: “We control our own destiny.”
That mindset began nearly 12 months earlier, when Montezuma‑Cortez left the floor at regional host Aspen after a heart‑rending 2025 4A tournament opening‑round loss to Timnath.
“When we met in the locker room after the game, our returning guys made the solemn commitment that this year would be different,” Hall said, “and that included winning the league.”
A perfect regular season began as an early‑season goal and took shape as the Panthers kept winning, including a 48‑46 victory over former Southwestern League foe Grand Junction, which finished as the No. 2 team in 5A.
M‑CHS dominated out‑of‑state opponents, swept its former Southwestern League rivals and kept every Intermountain League foe at least 18 points behind. That carried into Senior Night, where a packed Jungle honored the season’s “Black Out” theme.
On Friday, the Panthers rolled to a 70‑36 win over Bayfield to become one of two boys programs statewide to complete an unbeaten regular season, joining Nucla at 23‑0.
The night also included a milestone, as junior Trey Hall scored 32 points to eclipse 1,000 career points.
Hall’s early scoring set the tone, with 13 first‑half points helping M‑CHS build a 34‑12 halftime lead.
Bayfield couldn’t breakdown the Panthers’ interior defense and turned to outside shots to keep the margin manageable. Six second‑half 3-pointers accounted for 18 of the Wolverines’ 24 points, with Hayes Malone hitting three.
But the Wolverines never cut into the deficit, which stayed in the mid‑20s through the third quarter and grew into the 30s as Hall approached his scoring milestone.
With 30 seconds left and sitting on 999 points, Hall drove the baseline, spun off his defender and scored from the right block, bringing the home crowd to its feet. Head coach Mike Hall, his uncle, called timeout so Trey could take in the ovation.
“It was great passing all night,” Hall said, crediting teammates for the milestone, “and we just knew that we were going to move the ball around, and that each of us would be able to score.”
The Panthers again relied on ball movement to breakdown Bayfield. Senior Trace Hartsoe scored 10 points in his final regular‑season home game, joined by seniors Wyatt Oliver and Eli Slim.
“I love how our seniors keep their composure and their heads in the game all the time,” Hall said.
It won’t be the last time the Class of 2026 plays in The Jungle. M‑CHS earned its first regional host slot since 2018‑19 and will await CHSAA’s final Seeding and Selection Index to determine its opponents for March 6‑7.
Junior Asher Bennetts scored eight points, and sophomores Justin Bane and Royce Watts added six apiece. Bayfield sophomore Harrison Williams scored seven, and Malone finished with nine.
The Wolverines will make the 3A state field regardless of Saturday’s Senior Day result against Pagosa Springs and will learn their postseason path afterward.
“We’re hoping for another packed crowd next weekend,” Hall said. “We know they’re going to be tough games for us – but we know that we’re just going to go out and play our game.”
It won’t be the last time that the Class of ’26 will take the floor in The Jungle, however, as M-CHS ensured their first regional hosting opportunity since 2018-19. M-CHS will await CHSAA’s final rankings in their Seeding and Selection Index to determine who will pay a visit to Cortez over the weekend of Friday and Saturday, Mar. 6-7.
M-CHS junior Asher Bennetts scored eight points, while sophomores Justin Bane and Royce Watts added six apiece in the win, while Bayfield sophomore Harrison Williams’ seven points added to Malone’s nine markers in the defeat.
The Wolverines will make the 3A state field, regardless of the outcome of their own Senior Day festivities against Pagosa Springs on Saturday afternoon, and will await their own postseason fate to be announced at the conclusion of the weekend.
“We’re hoping for another packed crowd next weekend,” said Hall, “we know they’re going to be tough games for us – but we know that we’re just going to go out and play our game.”
