2001 SDHSAA Class A

Back-to-back state champions

A record-breaking tournament completed one of South Dakota basketball’s unforgettable title runs.

2001 SDHSAA Class ABack-to-Back State Champions

Championship Game

West Central104

Newell73

West Central opened its title defense with a 58–43 quarterfinal victory over Harrisburg. The Trojans then defeated Sioux Valley 94–80 in the semifinal as Josh Mueller delivered a state-tournament-record 60 points.

The Trojans completed the repeat with a record-setting 104-point performance against Newell. Mueller scored 55 points in the final as West Central secured its second consecutive Class A championship.

Josh Mueller in his West Central Trojans uniform during the championship era

Josh Mueller’s historic three-game tournament

His individual scoring performance across West Central’s quarterfinal, semifinal and championship victories

Quarterfinal points32Semifinal points60Championship points55Total points147

Head CoachKent MuellerState Tournament RunQuarterfinal: 58–43 vs. Harrisburg
Semifinal: 94–80 vs. Sioux Valley
Championship: 104–73 vs. Newell

104Most points by a team in a state championship game18Three-pointers by Josh Mueller in the tournament49–1West Central’s combined record across the two-year title run

Back-to-back champions · A record-breaking finish to an unforgettable era

From the 2001 championship archive

The Back-to-Back Scrapbook

Follow the defending champions from their opening-round test through a record-breaking semifinal and the 104-point championship performance that completed the repeat. Tap a page—or double-click on a computer—to read it full size.

South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame

Coach Kent Mueller

An athlete, teacher and coach whose career left an extraordinary mark on West Central and generations of South Dakota athletes.

49–1West Central boys’ basketball record during the 2000–01 title run2Consecutive Class A basketball championships17High school football state championship appearances through 202514Football state championship victories by his teams

Mueller and Jim Uttecht built a West Central football dynasty, trading the head coach and top assistant roles while leading the Trojans to 12 state titles and three runner-up finishes. On the basketball court, Mueller coached West Central to state runner-up finishes in 1994 and 1999 before the Trojans’ historic back-to-back championships in 2000 and 2001.

He is one of only four coaches in South Dakota history to win state football and basketball championships as a head coach—and the only one to win multiple state titles in both sports. His influence also extended statewide through the Dakota Schoolers AAU program, helping young athletes turn high school success into college opportunities.

Watch the Induction

A Hall of Fame Legacy

Celebrate Coach Mueller’s remarkable career and the championship legacy he helped build at West Central.

Watch on YouTube