The champion wasn’t going to leave the Target Center floor without taking a beating.

Class 1A powers Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (31-1) and Rushford-Peterson (31-2) are among the state’s elite, and battle-tested. The two senior-laden teams are accustomed to winning, and weren’t going down without giving or taking their best shot.

Senior guard Brian Goodwin scored 13 consecutive second-half points for top-ranked Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, willing the Jaguars to a 52-40 victory in the Class 1A finals on Saturday at Target Center. It was the school’s second state championship, the other coming in 2012.

“That was a very physical game,” Goodwin said. “They were very scrappy. It’s a great feeling to win a game like that.”

Goodwin’s four free throws broke a 39-all deadlock with just over four minutes remaining. The Mr. Basketball finalist wound up with a game-high 24 points.

“He’s a complete player,” Trojans coach Tom Vix said. “He really understands what his team needs during a game. He’s one of the best guards in the state.”

Senior forward Billy Borgerding’s three-point play and two free throws gave the Jaguars some breathing room at 48-39. It sent the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa faithful into celebration mode.

“Our coach let us know before the game that it was going to be physical,” the slender 6-foot-7 Borgerding said. “It was a very emotional battle.”

Third-ranked Rushford-Peterson weathered a quick start by the Jaguars. It struggled early against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa’s active 1-2-2 zone, and quickly found itself in an 11-0 hole five minutes into the matchup.

The Trojans finally settled down and closed the first half on a 25-10 run to take a four-point lead at the intermission. Alex Vix and Cole Kingsley both ignited the comeback with eight points each. Vix finished 12 12 points and Kingsley had 11.

Rushford-Peterson maintained that four-point cushion, 34-30, until Goodwin kicked it in another gear midway through the second half.

“Our goal was to get back to the state tournament, and win it,” Goodwin said. The Jaguars were upset in the Section 6 semifinals a year ago. “This is special.”


Photo gallery: Class 1A championship