Kevin Higgins stepped out of the Fairfield High School locker room with a smile on his face and plentiful words of credibility to deliver.
The Electric Factory — we’d like to currently call the Hamilton Big Blue — was blaring celebratory music from where Higgins came from.
“This is special,” the sixth-year Hamilton boys basketball coach boasted Saturday afternoon.
It certainly has been an exceptional last couple of weeks for the Big Blue — who have won three in a row to advance to their first district title game in 17 years.
“A lot of people doubted Hamilton,” Higgins said with a smirk. “A lot of people say stuff about us.”
There was only one thing to say about the team in blue when it beat Butler County rival Lakota East 55-50.
“These kids were the heart of this town today,” Higgins elaborated. “They were the heart of this city.”
And “they were fantastic,” too.
Senior big man Andrea Holden has used his athletic talents to do most of his speaking all season. That includes powerful dunks and an intense display of defense.
But the Tiffin University commit has done more than that.
He’s brought together a program that’s continually wanted to improve. The rest of the seniors — Demetrius Berry, Deon’dre Tillery and transfer Mason King — have followed suit. So have the underclassmen.
So, Higgins is indeed right. You can’t shy away from the facts.
“I don’t think people realize that I’ve been here for six years and four out of those six years, we’ve won 13 or more games,” he said. “We’ve been to three sectional finals. We’ve been a lot better than what people think.”
A talented and athletic Big Blue bunch will take the court next Sunday, March 10, in a Division I district final against Greater Miami Conference foe Sycamore at Xavier University’s Cintas Center.
A time has yet to be determined for tipoff. But to Higgins, when simply isn’t a factor as his squad gets the chance to compete for a district championship.
“I don’t set goals,” Higgins said. “But that’s the only goal I had when I took this job — to see if we can do that one more time.
“Is it Sycamore?” he questioned about Hamilton’s next opponent. “Then that’s who we’re going to go play. That’s who we’re going to go play, and it should be an exciting game.
“We’re just happy to be there. We’re looking forward to it.”
