Higgins seniors Cara Watson, from left, her twin sister, Cora, Averi Durham (20), and Dakota Suit helped lead the Lady Coyotes to their first district championship in 32 years. [Provided photo]
HIGGINS— It’s no secret that at the end of the 2020 school year, Higgins Independent School District will be closing its doors to consolidate with another school district next fall.
Higgins ISD has stated they cannot maintain an average daily attendance of 90 students, deeming the close of the school necessary.
Higgins has never carried a strong tradition when it comes to athletics. They are rarely publicized, and a second thought on another schools schedule.
But over the past four years the girls varsity basketball team has done their best to change that reputation.
Especially this season. Instead of turning in their gear, or hanging up their sneakers, the Lady Coyotes are putting a stamp on their final year together in a monumental way.
“We sat down at the start of the season, and we discussed goals” Higgins basketball coach Carla Watson said. “The team wrote down that they wanted to win district, and go undefeated through district. That was very important to them and they did it.”
The Lady Coyotes had been to the playoffs the past three seasons, but never could claim a district title, or make an impact in the postseason.
However, behind four seniors — twin sisters Cara and Cora Watson, the daughters of head coach, Carla, as well as Averi Durham and Dakota Suit — this group finished the regular season at 20-3, and accomplished its first goal with a 10-0 mark in District 1-1A to earn its first gold ball since 1988.
The Higgins Lady Coyotes finished District 1-1A play a perfect 10-0. [Provided photo]
“We wanted to show our community that we could do it,” Cara said. “I know in the past, we don’t have a lot of history. Even recently when we made the playoffs we were a third place team. We want to prove how capable we are, and leave it all on the floor.”
Cara and Cora are definitely what make the Lady Coyotes dangerous. They aren’t the biggest players, but both are very skilled and play with passion. On the year, Cara averages 21 points a game with four steals. Cora follows with 13 ppg, and close to eight rebounds a night.
“I feel like we have a family connection,” Cora said. “It’s not just with us three, but the entire team. We’re all so close and have such great chemistry between each other.”
Drawing a first round bye in the UIL Class 1A playoffs, the goal is to win an area championship, and roll the dice from there. Higgins has never won an area title, nor played in area game in 32 years
“This team wants a playoff win,” Watson said. We haven’t been in the area round since 1988. But we have four amazing seniors that work hard and do anything ask of them. So our goal now is to win the next one. We have a game coming in area and that’s the focus.”
Higgins will await the winner between Anton and Wildorado, which will square off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Plainview.
