Maddie Nelson slices through the lane, driving past defenders in a blur, before finishing with a slick layup at the rim amidst a pack of players.

The Smithville junior races back down the court, pausing only to adjust her face mask, the one that essentially saved her season and allowed her to return to the court this season.

Three months ago, there was uncertainty that Nelson would be able to suit up for the Warriors again — much less this season — but a high-tech piece of equipment from a Michigan company has Nelson playing her fierce brand of basketball once again this year.

Since the first game of the season, she has been wearing a mask created by Jeremy Murray, an orthotist from Michigan who has created hundreds of masks for high school and professional athletes alike, including Detroit Pistons’ star Rip Hamilton.

After facing doubt about her playing chances, Nelson said the mask has been a huge blessing for her confidence — both on and off the court.

“The fact that I knew Rip Hamilton wore it, I was like, ‘This is so cool,’” Nelson said. “And I knew that since they wore it, it was obviously the real deal and they didn’t have a problem with it. So why couldn’t I?”

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A few short weeks ago, it appeared Nelson would face a much longer road to recovery following a freak softball accident.

On Sept. 29, a stray softball caromed off of a bat and struck her in the eye during the pregame warm-ups. Nelson did not think the injury was that severe at the time, but medical scans revealed a series of fractures that required eight hours of intensive surgery and required titanium plates to be inserted around the injured area.

Immediately afterward, however, Nelson was focused on what she had to do to return to the basketball court this season, which was only weeks away.

“After it happened and I knew I was going to have surgery, I wanted to have the surgery pretty quickly,” Nelson said. “I just wanted to get this over with so I could have recovery time so I could get back to basketball.

“So the whole time I was counting, and I was trying to make a timeline. OK, I have three more weeks until I can start working out and then three more weeks after that until I can have contact. That’s what I’m thinking.”

Her recovery progressed at a tremendous rate, and doctors approved her for physical activity during the preseason — but only with face protection of some sort. Initially, Nelson wore a bulky, multi-sport mask commonly used in softball that limited her vision when she had it on.

But Sandy Henshaw — Maddie’s mother — searched for an alternative mask and learned of Murray and his work at Michigan Hand and Sports Rehab Centers in Michigan after consulting with Maddie’s doctors.

After contacting Murray, Sandy quickly put the wheels in motion and started the process of creating a custom mask, which included taking a mold of Nelson’s face — an hour-long process — and sending it to Michigan.

Murray said he has created about 500 masks in the past three years alone, most of them for high school and college players. Perhaps more than anything, he said he gains a tremendous amount of satisfaction in helping players from all sports and ability levels get back on the field and compete in the sports they love.

“One of the best parts of it is seeing my patients get back out there and be able to play,” Murray said. “If you can get to them to play without fear of injury, that’s your best case scenario. This may be their last time playing and being able to participate as long as possible while being able to do it safely is fantastic.”

Despite some difficulties, it arrived in time for the first game of the season, as Nelson scored 10 points in the season-opener.

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And though similar masks have proven to be effective and protect players at the professional level, Nelson hadn’t seen the mask’s capabilities put to the test. Until a game earlier this month against Shawnee Mission Northwest.

While scrambling for a ball, she was on the floor and absorbed the full force of another player, who also was diving for the ball and landed on Nelson’s face.

It was the scariest moment yet for her, but the protective mask did its duties and prevented Nelson from sustaining any further injury during the play.

“A girl seriously jumped, she was kind of doing the same thing I was, expect she landed right on my face,” Nelson said. “I cried not because it hurt but because it scared me. … And if I weren’t wearing that, it probably would have done more damage.”

Thanks to her aggressive style of play, Nelson’s game thrives on hustle plays and the ability to put herself at risk of potentially suffering another injury. But Smithville coach Trevor Mosby has not noticed a drop in play in the slightest bit from her this season.

“I’ve never seen one thing as far as her scared her face is going to hit,” Mosby said. “She dives on as many balls, leads in with her head. I can’t tell one difference, nothing. I asked her and she goes, ‘No, I don’t think about it.’

“Sometimes, when her face gets hit, she gets a little scared, but never a thought before.”

Henshaw admitted she was apprehensive, and still is to an extent, to see Nelson flying around on the court considering the severity of the injury.

But considering how important the competition is to her daughter, many of Henshaw’s fears have been put at ease by the high-tech piece of protective equipment.

“When she dives after the ball, that’s a concern to me, just because this could have been so much worse than what it was,” Henshaw said. “… I’m just amazed by my child. I really am. She’s phenomenal. She’s done a great job, and she’s such a great kid.”

Of course, Nelson said would rather not have to wear a protective mask of any kind, even though her current one does not enter her field of vision when she is playing.

But even she realizes how lucky she is to be back out on the court as the Warriors seek another playoff appearance this season — all thanks to a small piece of plastic from 800 miles away.

“I really like the mask, but in the back of my mind, I really would rather play without it,” Nelson said. “I mean, who would want to wear it? But I’m just thankful that I have it because if I didn’t then I probably wouldn’t be playing right now.”