Alexandria tops Mankato East 73-64 to claim Class 3A boys basketball championship

Alexandria senior Chase Thompson sprinted to the edge of the court after the final horn sounded inside Williams Arena on Saturday, his hands raised with a huge smile on his face.

On the other side of the floor, Mankato East senior Brogan Madson slowly strolled off the court, his hands on his hips and a look of dejection on his face.

It was a telltale image of two well-acquainted programs, both consumed by a quest for their initial state championship.

Thompson, a Clemson commit and the Minnesota Star Tribune’s All-Minnesota Player of the Year, wasn’t going to be denied a state championship in his final season.

The 6-8 forward finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lead Alexandria to its first boys basketball state championship with a 73-64 victory in the Class 3A final.

The victory also ended a three-game losing streak for the Cardinals (29-3) against Mankato East. They most recently lost to Mankato East (29-2) in the Capitol City Classic at the end of December. Alexandria also lost to the Cougars in last year’s state semifinals 65-62.

“Failure, failure, failure, success,” Thompson said after hoisting the championship trophy and giving it a kiss. With Dick Bender, one of his future assistant coaches at Clemson, in attendance, Thompson was 10-of-18 from the floor, including three three-pointers.

“We left our mark on the program,” Thompson said.

In the second half, the Cougars rallied from a 14-point deficit to cut it to 58-55 with 4 minutes, 41 seconds remaining. Thompson buried a three-pointer 35 seconds later and followed it up with a layup on the Cardinals’ following possession.

Mankato East closed the gap to 65-62 with 1:27 left, but Thompson responded with a basket at the rim to restore order.

“He’s the best player in the state of Minnesota hands down,” Alexandria coach Forrest Witt said.

Alexandria junior guards and cousins Talan and Mason Witt added 16 and 13 points, respectively. Senior Samson Hagstrom chipped in with 10 points, including three timely baskets.

“This is the most focused, dialed in group that I have had,” Forrest Witt said. Mason is his son.

Madson didn’t let the Cougars go quietly. He finished with 27 points on 12-for-25 shooting. The Cougars struggled with one of their season trademarks: three-point shooting. They finished 7-for-26 (27%).

“We didn’t get aggressive enough at times,” said Cougars coach Joe Madson, Brogan’s father. “We didn’t get enough offense. We got too passive.”

Brogan was hoping to help his father win the program’s first state title in 13 tournament appearances.

“This is the most resilient group I’ve ever played with,” Brogan Madson said before breaking down in tears.

Lucas Gustafson added 12 points for the Cougars while fellow junior Amari Nobles had 10.

“This is exactly how you want to finish your high school career,” Thompson said.