Higgins relishes chance to aid Foothill bid

Bri Higgins spent much of the last two months of last year’s basketball season in pain.

At first, because of a severe knee injury that cut short the Foothill starting post’s season.

Then because Higgins had to watch as her teammates twice fell short of advancing to the Class 4A state tournament.

“It was just terrible,” said Higgins, a 6-foot senior. “It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve been through. I know I could have helped them.”

She’s getting her chance to help this year, and it’s showing.

With Higgins posting team-high averages in points (13.7) and rebounds (10.7), the Falcons went 14-0 in the Southeast League to earn the league’s top seed in the Sunrise Region playoffs, which begin tonight. Foothill (17-5) hosts Rancho (17-9) in a region quarterfinal at 6:30.

“(Higgins) is not 100 percent,” Foothill coach Mike Collins said. “She’s probably about 85 or 90 percent of what she could be, but having her presence in there, someone who knows the game, makes all the difference in the world.”

Higgins went up to block a shot against Green Valley on Dec. 16, 2010, and it ended up being her final play last season.

“I kind of got shoulder-bumped, and something went wrong and my knee gave out,” she said. “The trainer checked me out, and I could run a little, but I was a little unstable. The trainers thought I was fine, that it was just a sprain, a little tweak.”

Higgins went to a doctor for further examination, expecting to miss a month, at worst, while the knee healed. Instead, an MRI revealed a torn meniscus and an anterior cruciate ligament that had disintegrated.

“I didn’t have an ACL at all,” she said. “It was completely gone.”

Just like Foothill’s momentum. Without Higgins, the Falcons lost seven of their next eight before righting the ship and reaching the Sunrise final, where they lost to Liberty. Foothill also lost to Bishop Gorman in a state play-in game.

Higgins’ role was reduced to helping her fellow post players, during which she gained valuable insight into her team and the game.

“She was able to sit back last year and see what they needed,” Collins said. “They needed leadership, and they needed a grounding force. She stepped up this year and became the leader.”

Higgins said: “(Sitting out) makes me appreciate it a lot more. I feel like I’m a lot smarter and I’m more calm on the court, but I feel like my athleticism went down a little. It’s nothing I can’t gain back, but I’ve gotten more basketball smart.”

Higgins is far from the Falcons’ only weapon. Christina Nash, Julie Harless, Anaya Rodisha, Tanji Ajeto, Danielle Morris and Emily Cox all average at least six points, making the Falcons hard to stop. Taylor Collins, a 6-3 senior, is a shot-blocking force.

“We’re definitely a family, and we trust each other so much,” Higgins said. “We don’t mind giving up an open shot because we know our teammates will make the next one.”

Now Higgins is eager to lead the team to its goal, a trip to the state tournament.

“That’s definitely something I’ve looked forward to since my freshman year,” she said. “We have that taste in our mouth from last year, and we saw how much it took. We’re capable of doing it.”

In the other Sunrise quarterfinals at 6:30 p.m. today, Green Valley (16-11) plays at Northeast League champion Canyon Springs (19-1); Coronado (19-9) visits Las Vegas (16-6); and Valley (15-12) is at Liberty (22-5).

The Sunrise semifinals are Thursday and the final at 5 p.m. Friday, all at Foothill.

In the Sunset Region quarterfinals at 6:30 p.m. today, Durango (10-8) visits Northwest League champ Centennial (26-2); Faith Lutheran (14-11) is at Southwest champ Bishop Gorman (23-3); Legacy (17-11) visits Desert Oasis (21-4); and Western (10-17) is at Palo Verde (18-6).

The Sunset semifinals are Thursday and the final at 5 p.m. Firday, all at Desert Oasis.