How Cello Jackson, FACS stunned PCA for second TSSAA Division II-A state championship

COOKEVILLE – Cello Jackson wasn’t coming off the court in the Division II-A state championship game Saturday.  

He waved off the stoppage for a cramp in his right leg in the second half. He also dislocated his finger and got it snapped back into place within seconds. 

First Assembly Christian School needed Jackson to the very end. He was on the court, dribbling out the last minute-and-a-half of the game before turning his signature crossover into a game-winning right-handed finish with two seconds left. The Crusaders beat Providence Christian Academy 57-55 at Tennessee Tech's Hooper Eblen Center for their second state title and second in three years.  

"Like coach Dee (Wilkes) said, all the practices we had, this is the last game of the season,” Jackson said. “I knew I had to keep playing. I knew the team needed me to play.” 

More:Celebrate FACS's epic Division II-A state title with our commemorative poster page

Jackson tied for a game high with 19 points. He’s just a sophomore. 

Before Jackson’s winning shot, it was composure that helped FACS (27-3) get within reach of PCA (29-5).  

Wilkes wasn’t fazed when the Crusaders trailed by nine at halftime, by 14 points in the second half and by 12 with eight minutes to play.

Instead, he gave his team a stern but simple message at halftime: Don't come out of the locker room if they don't believe they can win.

FACS had its share of comebacks this season, against Bartlett, against Miami Norland and Little Rock Central. They lost two of those games, only beating Norland, but it gave them the calluses needed to make one final push Saturday.

"I told them at halftime, we played a tough schedule for games like this,” Wilkes said. “We’ve been here. I never once doubted. ... I believe in these guys.” 

Jackson and MJ Hayes went on a 7-0 run to open the final quarter. Kris Carroll and Jacob Walker scored the next five points.  After that, Jackson scored the final six points to seal the gold ball trophy for the Crusaders.  

Jackson's performance was the encore act for what's shaping up to be a stellar sophomore class in Memphis. Hayes and Jackson combined for 34 of FACS’s 57 points, not long after Fred Smith had a career outing to lead Briarcrest to its third title in program history (scoring 29 points with 15 rebounds).  

"We coming,” Hayes said. 

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.