The Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa boys' basketball team had the program's third state title within its grasp in the final minute on Saturday, March 26 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Trailing 45-44, the Jaguars duked it out with top-seeded and defending state champion Hayfield down the stretch before falling 51-49. At halftime, the Jaguars led 29-21 and held the lead for over 16 of the game's first 18 minutes.

Isaac Matti led the Vikings (32-2) with 27 points. Ashton Dingmann was leading scorer for the Jaguars with 20 points. Other scoring for B-B-E: Luke Dingmann 15, Kaden Pieper 10, Gavin Kampsen 2, Easton Hagen 2.

RANDY OLSON

The Jaguars accept the Class 1A state runner-up trophy at Williams Arena on March 26.

B-B-E finishes 28-5 overall with the school's seventh Central Minnesota Conference title and a second state runner-up finish, the first coming in 2010-2011. B-B-E was CMC champion for six straight seasons from 2008 through 2014. They've played in the last five sub-section championship games and have played in four state tournaments.

To get to the state finals, the Jaguars upended No. 3-seeded New Life Academy of Woodbury 55-53 on Friday in Minneapolis.

Catch additional state tournament coverage at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper Jaguars Sports extended coverage blog: http://bbejaguars.blogspot.com. Beyond that, game stories and photos will appear in the March 31 issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper.