By BRIAN TRAHAN

Written for the LSWA

FAIRVIEW - Last fall, Courtnee Hollins looked at the individual accolades she earned while playing at Fairview High School since the seventh grade. Hollins knew she would trade them all for a state title.

In March, Hollins stood on the court at the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University after helping the Lady Panthers defeat Calvin 49-41 in the Class C finals. Finally, Hollins had the big trophy to go with the individual achievements after a grueling 46-game schedule.

Hollins' leadership as a team player led to the greatest individual award to date in her basketball career: the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Farm Bureau/Miss Basketball award.

Hollins won the honor over Franklin junior Alexis Rack, who led her high school to two straight Class 3A championships.

"Courtnee is a special kid. As a coach you very seldom see kids with her talent and ability to play the type of game she does," Fairview head coach Kyle Jinks said.

"I've been lucky to coach her. She is without a doubt the hardest working kid I've ever had the privilege of coaching."

Hollins' work ethic helped her rise above the competition in a career that spanned six seasons at the school nestled among the pine trees of Allen Parish.

Hollins, 5-7, wouldn't stand out in a crowd off the court. When she laces up her sneakers and the ball is tossed up, nobody plays the game with more ferocity or more court sense.

"She is very court savvy. Courtnee is one of those players who won't make mistakes. If you're going to beat Fairview with her in the game, you have to figure out a way to beat her," said Simpson head coach Michael Charrier, whose Lady Broncos lost to Fairview three times this season.

"She is capable of either getting the rest of her team involved or taking over a game and scoring 30 or 40 points. A lot of what she does you cannot coach. She just knows the game of basketball."

Hollins scored 29 points per game to go with 5.6 assists, 4.0 steals and 8.4 rebounds her senior year, for her fourth straight Class C first-team All-State honor, and the Class C Outstanding Player the second year.

The most impressive statistic may have been the team's 45-1 record, which included wins over two Class 2A teams, a 3A school that reached the quarterfinals and a 4A squad. Fairview's only loss came at the hands of Class 5A H.L. Bourgeois.

During Hollins' career at Fairview, the Lady Panthers were 227-47.

She finished her career with 4,457 points to place Hollins in the top 10 all-time among Louisiana high school girls. She also managed to hit 427 career three-pointers, 132 of those during the 2004-05 season.

In the fall 2004, Hollins signed to play with McNeese State University, where she plans to major in education and someday coach a team to the Sweet 16.

"It was an easy choice to play at McNeese," Hollins said. "It's close to home and my parents and Coach Jinks can watch me play."

At least one person in her life thinks her future remains on the basketball court.

"I would love to retire some day and hand over the program to Courtnee," Jinks said. "That ... would be an honor."

Hollins has her sights set on making a difference in Lake Charles as a freshman in college.

"I already know the offense that McNeese uses, so perhaps I'll get to play some as a freshman," she said. "The coach told me if I keep working hard, I'll see some playing time."

Nobody in Fairview would argue that point.