Jackson junior Josh Daume scored a team-high 17 points in the Indians' thrilling 60-59 victory over Chaminade in the Class 5 sectional round last week.
The victory advanced Jackson to its first quarterfinal appearance since 1992.
Daume missed the majority of the season with a stress fracture in his left shin, but the 5-foot-10 point guard returned to provide both points and ball-handling skills for the Indians' stretch run.
"When he came back he gave us a kid that can attack the basket, and he made it that much easier to get into our offense," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "He made it a lot easier for other kids to do their roles."
The Indians won six of eight games -- the losses to two state-ranked teams, Charleston and CBC -- immediately after his return to the lineup, which included the Class 5 District 1 championship.
In addition to leading Jackson in scoring in the sectional game, Daume consistently was able to penetrate Chaminade's collapsing zone defense and then pass out to teammates for open shots.
"He can get to the basket, too, because he jumps pretty well," Scott said. "And he did a good job of guarding one of their guards. That was huge."
Jackson ultimately lost to De Smet in the quarterfinals and finished with a 19-11 record.
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