Oli Higgins is only a sophomore, but he already has established a commanding presence in Maine high school boys basketball.
The Brewer big-man stands over 6-foot-8 and is in just his second high school season for the Witches. He matches that length with a balanced game that helps Brewer on both ends of the floor.
Higgins provided a big-time performance in the recent rivalry matchup against Bangor, scoring his team’s first nine points and finishing with 21 on the night as the Witches battled back for a 49-46 win.
The sophomore also provided the defining stretch of the contest with back-to-back steals and dunks early in the second quarter. Those high-flying plays got his team — and the Brewer home crowd — back into the game after a subdued start.
In each case, Higgins followed up a steal with a break-away dunk for four-straight points and a change in energy that Brewer desperately needed.
Brewer had scored just four points in the first quarter, all from Higgins, and the dunks provided a pivotal swing in momentum that energized fans and helped the Witches dig out of the early hole.
Asked after the game what he was thinking as he went up for those emphatic transition slams, Higgins smiles.
“Obviously, don’t mess up,” he said. “Just put the ball through the hoop.”
The towering sophomore is going to get a lot of attention from opposing defenses all year long, and is focused on helping his team.
“Just play as hard as I can, try and get the offense moving,” Higgins said when asked about his approach on the court. “Try and get the best looks that I can for the team.”
And he sees the defensive end as the catalyst for the Witches squad.
“I really feel like our defense helps us offensively,” Higgins said. “If we’re not playing well defensively, I think our offense takes a toll.”
Defense and three-point shooting were both invaluable down the stretch for the Witches against Bangor. After Higgins kept the team in the hard-fought game, deep shooting from teammates Jack Robertson and Caleb Campbell helped finalize the comeback late.
Higgins said afterward that the rivalry win felt great.
“Energy was high all night,” he said. “It feels amazing to get out of here with a win.”
Bangor head coach Jay Kemble was asked about going up against Higgins after the game.
“He’s got length, so that’s the first thing you’ve got to contend with,” Kemble said. “We don’t have that type of length in our program.”
Not many teams do in Maine high school basketball, making Higgins a challenging matchup for just about any opponent.
“You know he’s going to get his points, he’s going to get his rebounds,” Kemble said. “He’s just a good, talented player.”
Higgins and the Witches next face another one of the more talented players in the North region, Akol Maiwen, and the Red Eddies from Edward Little in Auburn.
Brewer and Edward Little tip off on Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. in Augusta as part of the Capital City Hoops Classic. Brewer goes into the game with a 2-3 record and Edward Little is 5-2.