Once the Jackson County Central boys basketball program was able to make the long climb from the lower levels of Section 3AA, it has consistently been among the leaders for the top for the last decade.
JCC had a stretch where it won only 10 games over three seasons to having five 20-win seasons in the last 10.
The Huskies have an opportunity to equal the mark for the second-most wins in school history in Thursday’s 5 p.m. Section 3AA championship game vs. Montevideo at the R/A Facility at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
JCC is 24-4 heading into Thursday’s game. The Thunder Hawks are also 24-4.
In their first state tournament appearance under Trent Sukalski in the 2015-16 season, the Huskies were 25-6. JCC returned to state the next season and finished 26-6. Those are the top two marks in school history.
Mike Wierson was the interim coach in 2017-18 and Jackson County Central went 15-12.
Alex Hein has been the coach since the 2018-19 campaign and the Huskies have won at least 15 games in five of those seven seasons and have won 20 three times.
JCC has qualified for two state tournaments under Hein but have only played in one. The 2020 state tourney was cancelled about 12 hours after the Huskies beat Minnewaska Area to qualify.
Since I referred to Bradley and Rudy’s press room appearance, I’m bound by law to post the link:
The Huskies finished sixth in last year’s state tournament, losing to Albany, beating Pelican Rapids and falling to Pequot Lakes.
Season by season
Season won-loss records for the Jackson County Central boys basketball team.
1997-98: 10-12
1998-99: 11-12
1999-00: 15-8
2000-01: 10-14
2001-02: 12-12
2002-03: 11-13
2003-04: 3-21
2004-05: 3-21
2005-06: 4-20
2006-07: 10-14
2007-08: 10-15
2008-09: 8-17
2009-10: 12-14
2010-11: 18-9
2011-12: 8-17
2012-13: 16-10
2013-14: 17-10
2014-15: 19-9
2015-16: 25-6
2016-17: 26-6
2017-18: 15-12
2018-19: 18-10
2019-20: 20-7
2020-21: 3-16
2021-22: 12-16
2022-23: 15-10
2023-24: 22-9
2024-25: 24-4-x
X=in progress
Decade of championship games
Scores of the last 10 Section 3AA boys basketball championship games:
2015: Redwood Valley 53, Fairmont 43
2016: Jackson County Central 70, Montevideo 65 (OT)
2017: Jackson County Central 80, Morris/Chokio-Alberta 71
2018: Minnewaska Area 56, Pipestone 54
2019: Redwood Valley 74, St. James Area 49
2020: Jackson County Central 69, Minnewaska Area 60
2021: Morris/Chokio-Alberta 57, Pipestone 49
2022: Morris/Chokio-Alberta 56, Redwood Valley 54
2023: Eden Valley-Watkins 75, Redwood Valley 72
2024: Jackson County Central 67, Morris/Chokio-Alberta 52
Jackson County Central 2024-25 schedule/results
Friday, Dec. 6: at New Ulm, W 85-73
Tuesday, Dec. 10: Estherville Lincoln Central, W 79-46
Thursday, Dec. 12: at Blue Earth Area, W 76-60
Friday, Dec. 13: at Tri-City United, W 78-48
Tuesday, Dec. 17: at St. Peter, W 64-60
Friday, Dec. 20: at Fairmont, W 52-49
Monday, Dec. 30: Montevideo at SMSU, W 63-55
Tuesday, Dec. 31: Marshall at SMSU, W 71-67 (2 OT)
Friday, Jan. 3: at Belle Plaine, L 71-61
Tuesday, Jan. 7: at Redwood Valley, W 63-55
Friday, Jan. 10: at Windom, W 101-69
Monday, Jan. 13: Luverne. W 84-80
Tuesday, Jan. 14: Worthington, W 78-54
Thursday, Jan. 16: Blue Earth Area, W 70-52
Tuesday, Jan. 21: Tri-City United, W 91-34
Friday, Jan. 24: Fairmont, L 40-38
Monday, Jan. 27: at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, W 71-55
Tuesday, Jan. 28: at Pipestone, W 65-40
Friday, Jan. 31: Belle Plaine, W 84-69
Tuesday, Feb. 4: Windom, W 88-73
Friday, Feb. 7: Redwood Valley, W 96-83
Saturday, Feb. 8: Waseca, L 75-71
Tuesday, Feb. 11: at Luverne, W 75-62
Saturday, Feb. 15: at Maple River, L 78-64
Monday, Feb. 17: St. James Area, W 91-78
Friday, Feb. 21: at Pipestone, W 76-73
Thursday, March 6: Fairmont at Windom, W 66-50
Saturday, March 8: Luverne at SMSU, W 73-61
Thursday, March 13: Montevideo at SMSU, 5 p.m.
Montevideo 2024-25 schedule/results
Tuesday, Dec. 3: at MACCRAY, W 94-53
Thursday, Dec. 5: Lac qui Parle Valley, W 107-70
Tuesday, Dec. 10: Canby, W 96-36
Thursday, Dec. 12: at Morris/Chokio-Alberta, W 70-62
Saturday, Dec. 14: Luverne at SMSU, W 75-60
Tuesday, Dec. 17: Minnewaska Area, W 64-56
Friday, Dec. 20: at BOLD, W 82-52
Monday, Dec. 30: Jackson County Central at SMSU, L 63-55
Thursday, Jan. 2: at Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, W 80-42
Friday, Jan. 3: Sauk Centre, W 72-51
Thursday, Jan. 9: Benson, W 70-36
Tuesday, Jan. 14: Redwood Valley, W 80-59
Monday, Jan. 20: Yellow Medicine East, W 90-30
Tuesday, Jan. 21: at Melrose Area, W 52-40
Friday, Jan. 24: Morris/Chokio-Alberta, L 56-45
Tuesday, Jan. 28: West Central Area, W 79-60
Thursday, Jan. 30: at Minnewaska Area, W 91-49
Tuesday, Feb. 4: BOLD, W 75-62
Friday, Feb. 7: at Sauk Centre, W 66-50
Tuesday, Feb. 11: Eden Valley-Watkins, W 82-62
Thursday, Feb. 13: New London-Spicer, W 78-51
Saturday, Feb. 15: Pelican Rapids at Alexandria, W 82-59
Thursday, Feb. 20: at Dawson-Boyd, L 80-66
Friday, Feb. 21: at West Central Area, L 59-51
Monday, Feb. 24: Melrose Area, W 76-52
Friday, Feb. 28: New London-Spicer, W 70-29
Tuesday, March 4: Minnewaska Area at Willmar, W 87-56
Saturday, March 8: Morris/Chokio-Alberta at SMSU, W 65-59
Thursday, March 13: Jackson County Central at SMSU, 5 p.m.