When Arundel's Kevin Higgins gets in a zone, few Anne Arundel County players can match his accuracy from three-point range.
For the past three years, he has been one of the county's most feared shooters, but this year he has added another dimension to his game and No. 10 Arundel (12-3) has taken its game to a higher level.
Higgins is a shooting guard playing the point with effectiveness. Coach Gerald Moore said Higgins' averages of 16.3 points and 7.1 assists have changed the Wildcats "from pretender to contender."
Arundel is the front-runner in the county 4A League with a 7-1 record and has been tabbed the team to beat by Moore's peers in the East Region.
A region title, something Arundel hasn't won since 1975, is a ticket to the final four at College Park.
"We want to put a banner up there on the wall [in the school gym], that's our goal," said Higgins, who has drawn no college interest.
"I'm disappointed that no one has shown any interest in me yet, but if we keep playing well, maybe I will get my chance."
Glen Burnie was the victim of the most recent Higgins barrage Tuesday night in Gambrills. Higgins led Arundel to a 69-59 victory over the Gophers (7-8) by scoring 25 points, 15 of them on three-pointers, and dishing out eight assists.
"Higgins was the difference with those three-pointers down the stretch," said Glen Burnie coach Ter
ry Bogle. "It seemed like every time we got close, he would bomb one in."
The upset-minded Gophers got to within 54-51 with 4:05 remaining. Higgins pulled up from 30-35 feet out and calmly launched a high-arcing shot that hit nothing but net. Just like that a three-point deficit went to six (57-51).
It was Higgins' fifth and final three-pointer of the game and was the most telling, because the Gophers never got any closer.
"It was the best game of my life," said the 6-foot-3 and 170-pound senior point guard. "If I'm hitting in practice before a game, I usually get hot in the game.
"I just get into a zone and don't feel like I can miss, especially if I hit that first shot. But if I miss the first one, I'm usually shaky."
Higgins has been a scorer throughout his three-year varsity career at Arundel, averaging 15 points in each of the last two seasons.
The move from shooting guard to point guard this year was a change he wasn't initially crazy about.
"It's been difficult because I'm not a really good ball handler and I don't get to drive as much, but I will do anything to help the team," said Higgins.
Moore sat Higgins down early in the season and made a plea.
"I told Kevin he had to be the man for us to win," said Moore. "He's been really consistent despite our battles in practice. We really go at in practice sometimes."
With 107 assists in 15 games, Higgins directs a potent offense that includes county leading scorer and fellow co-captain Bakari Ward (22.5
points average) and Marquise Farmer (13.7).
"Everybody wants the ball and I try to go to the open man," said Higgins laughing while adding, "even if I have been mad at somebody. I know sometimes on this team it seems like we should be playing with more than one ball.
"But Bakari pushes me. We push each other in practice and games."
Higgins also loves pressure and wants the ball when the game is on the line. His left-handed lay-in with eight seconds left lifted the Wildcats over Annapolis, 66-64, on Jan. 3, and he had 17 points in a losing 78-74 rematch with the Panthers.
"I love those kind of games," said Higgins. "Making a shot like that [Annapolis] or a three in the clutch after a steal is the kind of situations I hope for.
"This is definitely the most talented team I've played on at Arundel and it's up to us to get it done."