Hasani Jackson’s return to the East Ridge boys’ basketball program happened like a lightning strike, in unexpected fashion and with surprising quickness.
For the Pioneers, his presence on the court has reverberated like thunder.
In his first five games since transferring back from Alabama’s North Jackson, where he starred on the football field this past fall, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior has scored more than 100 points while helping guide the Pioneers to a TSSAA District 6-3A championship game for the second time in his prep career.
Confidence is soaring for the Pioneers, who pushed their winning streak to six games with Friday’s 56-51 semifinal win against Soddy Daisy at Signal Mountain. East Ridge (11-13) will return there for Tuesday’s 8:30 p.m. title game against Red Bank (23-7), having recently beaten the Lions on the road as Jackson produced one of his routine double-doubles.
“LaMichael Porter and De’Andre Turnbow have been big additions for our team this year, and then to have Hasani back is just incredible,” Pioneers coach Tre High said. “We didn’t know he was coming back. All of a sudden we had a phone call, and they said he was coming back to school here to finish his senior year.
“It was a sight of relief. He is a man amongst boys. He is a great player and a huge spark for us at the perfect time.”
Porter led the way with 20 points against Soddy Daisy (18-10), which got 19 points and nine rebounds from sophomore Skyler Johnson and four 3-pointers from junior Evan Coleman.
Jackson, who was an all-state basketball selection last season for East Ridge while averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds, posted a dozen points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in the win, while Turnbow added 10 points and three steals.
Now the Pioneers will have the chance to become only the second team in program history to win a district championship and the first since 2007, when Phillip Jurick and Alex Wells starred for East Ridge. Just a couple of weeks ago, those two players’ jersey numbers were retired by their high school alma mater.
“I feel like we can win it,” said Jackson, a Mars Hill University football signee. “We have a good team, and everybody is playing hard. We want to help East Ridge win a second district title, and I am hungry because we lost in the championship game my sophomore year to Central. To be back here at East Ridge means a lot to me. They have shown me love ever since middle school and built me up.”
With one of the district’s most physically dominating players back in Jackson, his spark has also impacted everyone around him, giving his team a major boost in rebounding and scoring, along with the mental game.
“Their confidence is through the roof,” High said of his players. “To be honest, since we got Hasani back, our practices have been crazy. These guys were already competitive and would go at each other, but even more so now. Hasani is one of the best athletes we have had here at East Ridge, and the guys all are glad to see him back.”
Red Bank could prove a tough test on Tuesday, though.
The Lions put together their most dominant first half of the season Friday night as they led 50-11 at halftime in their runaway semifinal victory over Central.
“As long as we keep doing what we have been, we can win the district title,” Jackson said. “We get another chance at it, and winning one would mean a lot to us all. We just have to watch film, capitalize on their mistakes and leave it all out there on the court. We are going to do everything in our power to make something special happen for our school.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.