JCC, Hills-Beaver Creek both heading to state boys hoops tourney

The Jackson County Central Huskies are headed to the Minnesota Class AA boys basketball tournament following a 59-54 victory Thursday night over previously unbeaten Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.

Roman Voss scored 29 points for JCC, which is ranked eighth in the state and is now 25-6 on the season. The top-ranked Tigers had been 28-0 before being humbled by the Huskies.

JCC went into halftime with a 33-18 advantage over MACA. Voss canned a three-pointer at the buzzer, finishing the opening 18 minutes with 17 points. 

The Tigers weren't surrendering yet, though. They got to within eight points of the lead with roughly 10 minutes remaining, but JCC regrouped and once again secured a 15-point lead on a 3-point shot by Blaise Rowe with 6:32 left, forcing a MACA timeout. The Tigers closed the gap by scoring the game's final six points, but it was too little too late.

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The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots advanced to the state Class A boys basketball tournament for the first time by downing Central Minnesota Christian 77-70 in Thursday's Section 3A title game at SMSU.

The Patriots, ranked sixth in the state, had lost in the 2025 sectional final, but outlasted the No. 2-ranked Bluejays to get there this year. Hills-Beaver Creek is now 27-3 on the season.

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In the state Class AAA girls basketball tournament Thursday, third-ranked Marshall was defeated 71-59 by No. 2 Benilde-St. Margaret's. The Tigers will face Cretin-Derham-Hall for third place on Saturday.