April 02--There's nothing Valerie Higgins of West Hills Chaminade enjoys more than creating turmoil on defense. Deflecting passes, blocking shots, making steals -- it's the most fulfilling part of basketball in her opinion.
"It's all about heart and hustle," she said. "It's about putting in the effort to make the extra play or diving on the court for a loose ball. It's what I pride myself in, giving 110%."
For four years, Higgins has been a defensive pest. This season, playing point guard, she added offense to her repertoire, averaging 20.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in helping Chaminade win the state Open Division championship.
The USC-bound Higgins has been selected The Times' girls' basketball player of the year.
Chaminade started the season as a team that had trouble against full-court presses. By the end, with Higgins leading the way, few teams wanted to test the Eagles.
"At the beginning of the year, we were having trouble bringing the ball up and I stepped up and worked on my ballhandling and court awareness and helped my team turn one of our weaknesses into a strength," she said.
The daughter of two former basketball players turned coaches, Higgins embraced her family's love for the sport to improve every season.
"For four years, she has given us high-level basketball and demanded high-level basketball," Coach Kelli DiMuro said. "Her confidence in her ballhandling blossomed in her junior year and this year she could break any press and wasn't afraid of any trap. She understood where the trap was coming from. She's improved so much."
Higgins helped Chaminade finish with a record of 31-4 and the Southern Section Open Division title.
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