Higbee junior Derek Rockett surpassed 1,000 career points to lead the Tigers in a blowout over Bevier, 91-39, in their home opener on Tuesday, November 22.

Rockett entered the season 33 points shy of the career milestone. He scored 37 on Tuesday to officially join the 1,000-point club. The junior also dished out 11 assists for a double-double with eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.

Rockett led four Higbee players in double figures. Junior Jaxson Hudson finished with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Junior Will Spilman added 14 points with four rebounds and two steals. Senior Chad Crawford delivered Higbee’s second double-double of the night with 13 points and 12 rebounds, to go along with two assists and four steals.

Higbee shined in all facets of Tuesday’s 52-point victory. The Tigers finished 57.8% from the field while knocking down 29 of 44 shots from 2-point range and were 8-for-20 (40%) from behind the arc. Despite their hot shooting, the Tigers only made nine of 18 free-throw attempts.

Higbee handily won the battle at the glass with 48 total rebounds compared to 37 for Bevier. The Tigers scored 54 of its 91 total points from the paint and had 26 points off of 19 Bevier turnovers.

The Tigers jumped in front early, leading 23-5 after one quarter and 46-20 at halftime. Higbee scored 40 points in the third quarter on the way to the lopsided victory.

Now 1-0 to start the season, Higbee opens the first to two back-to-back tournaments this week. On Monday, the Tigers, seeded second, face seventh-seeded Bucklinin the opening round of the Northwestern Invitational in Mendon. 

Higbee will enter its second-straight tournament during the first week of December as the second seed at the Pilot Grove Classic and will face Prairie Home/Bunceton, seeded seventh, at 7:30 p.m. on December 6.