The Thunderbirds are flying high

So Merritt College has earned a spot in the Final Four. Was this simply a walk through the proverbial park towards a pre-ordained destination?

Hardly.

"I thought we could be a championship team if I did my best to get them to jell and play together," McMiller said. "I don't ever go out not to compete for the state championship but every year it's a matter of finding the pieces to make you a contender. It was important for some of my fours and fives to develop. I am blessed and appreciative of the success we have had this season and we expect to be in the race every season."

In McMiller's first year heading the Thunderbird program, call it one of periodic renewal preceded by adjustments, course corrections and transitions. The roster changed, roles evolved, but with the focus remaining on we, not me.

"We stress staying as disciplined and consistent as possible, a learning how to win. You do that by playing team ball. Everybody wants to play but what do you want to get in for? Individual goals or team goals? It's an evolution, a growing up as men and playing basketball the right way."

The Thunderbirds did win more games than ever, finishing 25-6 overall, 12-4 in conference and currently own an eight-game win streak. They exceeded the 100 point mark four times.

McMiller divides this season into three timeframes: prior to suspensions, post suspension and post termination.

"At the San Jose City College tournament [opening the season], we had 12 players but lost the third game {86-80 to Lassen]. I suspended two guys and another went on injured reserve so we were down to nine. We went to Shasta (another tournament] and played team ball." Merritt took the title.

Then it was a period of the suspended players returning and more victories but also three losses, each an upset. After a player termination, "we won our last eight games," McMiller explained, including a 70-64 win in a rematch with Lassen plus a 110-75 on the road victory versus City College of San Francisco. "Since I have been coaching at Merritt, we had never defeated them in the summer and regular season."

As odd as it sounds, sometimes subtraction can become addition.

Now it's on to face East Los Angeles College in one of the Final Four matchups taking place Friday down at Cerritos College.

"I have some guys who got close to winning the state championship in high school but didn't get there. Like Rodney Pope lost a game in overtime to Monte Vista." That was in last season's Nor Cal championship matchup for Freedom High, it being one step away from the state finals.

Opportunity is knocking once again.