The Jackson County Central boys basketball team is the #4 seed in the 2026 Class AA State Tournament.
JCC will play #5 seed Albany in the quarterfinal round next Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. inside the Target Center.
JCC is 25-6 overall after capturing the Section 3AA championship with wins in 17 of their last 18 games. They ranked eighth in the final Prep Hoops poll and received votes from the coaches. JCC advanced into the State Tournament for the second time in three years and fifth time since finishing runner-up in 2016. The Jackson Bluejays advanced to State in 1987 as well.
Albany is looking to defend last year’s State championship and capture a third title in four years during their eighth appearance in program history. They are 24-6 overall after winning the 6AA title as the top seed. They also ranked 10th in the final coaches poll this year.
JCC started the 2024 bracket against Albany in the quarterfinals. JCC led by 13 points at halftime but lost 87-66 in that game.
The winner of the all-Huskies clash will play the winner of the preceding quarterfinal at Target Center between top seed Goodhue and #8 seed Perham.
The 29-1 Wildcats are the highest-scoring team in Class AA with nearly 83 points on average. They only lost to Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran this season. The Wildcats are also winners of their last 22 games including the 1AA title as the top seed there. This is Goodhue’s third State appearance in a row and seventh all-time featuring a 2016 Class A runner-up finish. The coaches and Prep Hoops polls both ranked Goodhue behind Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta entering the postseason. JCC smothered the previously undefeated Tigers to win the 3AA title.
The 18-12 Yellowjackets are the #8 seed after winning the 8AA championship as the #4 seed there. Perham won the 2011 AA title in their State debut with this being their first appearance since 2022 and sixth all-time.
The other side of the bracket begins on Wednesday inside Williams Center at the University of Minnesota.
Pequot Lakes is the #2 seed playing #7 seed Blake in the early quarterfinal.
The 28-1 Patriots are on a 21-game win streak after winning the 7AA championship and boast the best defense in AA which allows about 48 points per game. The coaches ranked them third and Prep Hoops ranked them fourth most recently. Pequot Lakes only lost to Caledonia this year and the Warriors lost to Goodhue in the 1AA Championship.
The 19-12 Bears are the 5AA champions. They are making their second State appearance and first since 2013.
Minnehaha Academy is the #3 seed playing #6 seed Waseca in the nightcap.
The 23-5 Redhawks have only lost to state-ranked Holy Family Catholic in December this year. The Fire lost to Blake in the Section 5AA quarterfinal. The Redhawks are seeking a fifth Class AA championship in their 14th qualification. They were ranked fifth by the coaches and sixth by Prep Hoops.
The 23-7 Bluejays are the 2AA champion and looking to improve upon last year’s State runner-up finish in their 14th State appearance. Waseca won the 2021 AA title and 1918 championship. The Bluejays started this season 0-4 but got on track to win 11 straight games and make it back to State for the third straight time.
The AA semifinals happen on Friday, March 27 and the championship game is Saturday, March 28 at Williams Arena. The consolation semifinals happen on Thursday night and the consolation championship is on Friday inside the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia University in St. Paul.
The Class AAAA quarterfinals get State Tournament action started at the Target Center on Tuesday, March 24.
Tartan is the top seed and Section 4AAAA champion playing #8 seed and 7AAAA champ Blaine. Lakeville South is the #4 seed and 1AAAA champ playing #5 seed and 2AAAA champ Chaska. Wayzata is the #2 seed and 6AAAA champ playing #7 seed and 3AAAA champ Apple Valley. Maple Grove is the #3 seed and 5AAAA champ playing #6 seed and 8AAAA champ Alexandria.
The Class AAA quarterfinals begin the State Tournament slate inside Williams Arena on Wednesday, March 25.
Totino-Grace is the top seed and Section 5AAA champion playing #8 seed and 3AAA champ Minneapolis South. Northfield is the #4 seed and 1AAA champ playing #5 seed and 2AAA champ Mankato East. DeLaSalle is the #2 seed and 4AAA champ playing #7 seed and 7AAA champ Grand Rapids. Richfield is the #3 seed and 6AAA champ playing #6 seed and 8AAA champ Sartell-St. Stephen.
The Class A quarterfinals are on Wednesday, March 25 inside the Target Center.
Henning is top seed and 6A champ playing #8 seed and 5A champ Upsala. Southland is the #4 seed and 1A champ playing #5 seed and 3A champ Hills-Beaver Creek. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton is the #2 seed and 2A champ playing #7 seed and 7A champ Cherry. Red Lake County is the #3 seed and 8A champ playing #6 seed and 4A champ Liberty Classical Academy.
The semifinals and championships in all classes will happen inside the Williams Center at UM. All of the consolation action takes place inside the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia.
We will follow the Jackson County Central boys basketball team all week long at the State Tournament with every game on KKOJ.