Huskies to start quest for boys state hoops title Tuesday night

Two years ago, Albany outscored Jackson County Central 54-20 in the second half to win their first-round Class 2A Boys Basketball Tournament game, 87-66.

JCC will look to avenge that setback Tuesday night when it again meets Albany — both teams are known as the Huskies — once again in a first-round state tourney game scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Jackson County Central is the No. 4 seed in the tournament and has a record of 25-6; Albany is the fifth seed and is 24-6.

Among the JCC players who will have the opportunity to play Albany again are seniors Roman Voss and Weston Rowe, who were among the team's leading scorers two years ago as sophomores. Voss had 19 points and Rowe contributed 18 in the 2024 state tourney defeat.

Jackson County Central, ranked eighth in the latest Class 2A poll, earned its latest spot at state by winning their final two games in sections against top-three rated teams.  Albany, ranked 10th, has won eight straight and beat Melrose by 20 points in its sectional final.

Also on JCC's side of the bracket, No. 1 seed Goodhue (29-1) meets No. 8 seed Perham (18-12) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Target Center. On Wednesday, second-seeded Pequot Lakes (28-1) opens against No. 7 seed Blake (19-12) and third-seeded Minnehaha Academy (23-5) plays No. 6 seed Waseca (23-7) at Williams Arena.