Liggins leads Cubs with defensive effort

~ The Bell City senior took on new roles after offseason changes in the program.

Bell City senior Jeff Liggins has experienced his share of successes and heartaches during his four-year basketball career.

Liggins has been a go-to player during each of Bell City's past two final four appearances, including the 2004 state title team. He has earned all-state honors as well as conference and regional honors.

The Cubs will make their third straight trip to Columbia, Mo., for the state final four, and Liggins hopes he can end his career with a second state title.

Bell City will play Tuscumbia at 7:40 tonight at Mizzou Arena.

"It's been exciting. We've had some great teams come through here," Liggins said. "I've learned a lot. I'm especially excited about this year. It's my last year, and I want to leave a great mark from this team."

The Cubs have won district titles in each of Liggins' four years as part of their streak of five straight district titles. Bell City had just one district title before its current streak, which includes four trips to the final four and two state titles.

During the past four years, Bell City has a record of 102-24.

"It basically comes from a lot of hard work and dedication, and some good coaching," Liggins said. "It's been our dream since we were kids to get to state."

All of that success has not come without its share of disappointments, though. Following a state title in 2002, the Cubs were expected to contend for the title in 2003 but fell in the sectional round 63-60 to Clarkton.

"When we lost, it was a heartbreaker," Liggins said. "That's a feeling I don't want ever again."

Those negative emotions were erased the following season. Senior guard Dominitrix Johnson scored 40 points in the championship game to lead the Cubs to the 2004 state title. Liggins averaged 10.5 points and five rebounds in Bell City's two final four games, including 13 points in the championship game.

"It was awesome, the greatest feeling in the world," Liggins said. "You're on top. No one can say they're better than you. It's a great feeling."

Bell City did not fare as well last year with a young lineup, but Liggins continued to excel, scoring 33 points and adding 27 rebounds in the Cubs' two final four losses. Liggins earned first-team all-state honors for his performance as a junior.

Liggins knew his role as a senior would change with the transfer of 6-foot-10 Will Bogan to Bell City last year. Further changing Liggins' role were the departure of guard D.D. Gillespie, who transferred to Scott County Central after leading the Cubs in scoring last season as a freshman, and a coaching change with Brian Brandtner replacing David Heeb.

"Jeff was willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help the team," Brandtner said. "When your leader at the top is like that, everyone else has to buy in."

Those sacrifices for Liggins have come on the offensive side, where he has averaged about nine points a game this season. Liggins' main contributions have come on the defensive end, where he is Bell City's stopper.

"He's really bought into the man-to-man defense, and really turned into a leader," Brandtner said. "He's always guarding the other team's top player, and at times carries the team on his shoulders on defense. He's such a leader by example, such a great kid to have around."

With two sophomore starters and three sophomores in the Cubs' eight-man rotation, Liggins' leadership and experience is important. Bell City has been ranked in the top three in Class 1 throughout the season and has been a favorite for a state title nearly every season during the Cubs' current run of district titles.

"It does have a lot of pressure, but that's what we learn to deal with during the season," Liggins said. "That's what the game's about. You can't let it bother you. You have to feed off it."

The Cubs enter the state tournament with just one loss since the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. Bell City is 27-4 heading into its semifinal game against Tuscumbia (22-8).

The other semifinal will match undefeated Jefferson (30-0) vs. Silex (28-2). Jefferson is ranked No. 1 in Class 1, followed by Silex and Bell City.

"I know Silex and Jefferson have a lot of hype," Brandtner said. "They are the top two teams in the rankings, but we're not looking past Tuscumbia."

Bell City and Jefferson are the state veterans among the Class 1 group, with 11 final four appearances between them. This will be the first final four appearance for both Silex and Tuscumbia.

"It's so tough to get there, so many things have to work in your favor," Brandtner said. "I've seen a lot of great teams not make it, and teams that shouldn't have made it work hard and get there. It's been the goal of my life to get there and win a championship. That's the thing we're trying to stress is you have to seize the moment."

Liggins is ready to do that.

"We just want to come out and win state," he said. "That's our main goal."