By Phil Jensen
Special to Chabot Athletics
The Chabot College men's basketball team had a trust-building exercise last week … on a beach 221 miles from Hayward.
On the way to a tournament in Santa Maria, Chabot coach Keenan McMiller planned for the team to spend some time at Avila Beach in southern San Luis Obispo County. One of the things they did was get into a big circle when tge coach asked sports questions from a sports psychologist.
These weren't softball-toss questions.
"Uncomfortable to answer," said McMiller about the questions. "Guys being out there when there is lack of trust in the game, communicating with me. They get along great off the court … When they get on the court, they don't communicate as well … especially when the pressure is on."
The Gladiators also visited a Cal Poly men's basketball practice on the trip. These bonding and learning sessions have helped the team prepare for the opening of the tough Coast-North Conference season this week.
"They definitely have grown," McMiller said about the team. "I think the growth, the maturity is happening … they are bonding together."
The Cal Poly practice represented another step in the players' growth process.
"They saw the discipline, they saw the focus. … The structure, the drills are very similar (to ours)," McMiller shared.
The Gladiators had a 7-7 record entering conference play; Chabot was 5-0 at home and 2-7 on the road.
"The challenge we've had … is that it is a tale of two teams," McMiller said. "We haven't lost a game at home … The other side is going on the road. We struggled."
Chabot's scheduled conference opener on Jan. 4 against Foothill was postponed due to poor weather. The Gladiators thus open on Friday at City College of San Francisco, the No. 2 team in the CCCMBCA state rankings.
The Gladiators were 0-2 at the AHC Holiday Classic last week, but in the second half of both games, they outscored their talented opponents, who both had winning records.
"They are both good teams," said McMiller about the two losses. "We are playing good teams on the road, and now in league."
Against host Allan Hancock in Santa Maria, Chabot had four double-figure scorers in the 87-71 loss. Jaiden Rivera, the team's leading scorer this season, led the way with 20 points, followed by Zach Broadous (16), Diggy Winbush (11) and David Hector (10). Hector also had a team-high 11 rebounds and three assists.
"We are pretty evenly-matched," McMiller said. "We started off OK, we were still timid. We had the lead multiple times in the game. … They are older and physically more imposing than watching them on film."
The next day, Cuesta barely edged Chabot, 79-76. Again the Gladiators had four double-digit scorers, led by Broadous with 22 points. Makaio Mims added 14, followed by David Ogunleye (13) and Hector (10). Hector, the team's leading rebounder this season, again paced the squad in rebounds (10). Winbush led the team in both assists (six) and steals (four). Ogunleye, a first-team all-conference selection last season, had a team-best two blocks.
"Cuesta traditionally is an international program. Again, older guys, skilled. Guys from Germany, Spain, Belgium," said McMiller, who also pointed out one of the team's local players from Atascadero. "We were able to get together a big run.
"It boiled down to a tale of two halves," said McMiller, whose team trailed 45-31 at halftime. "We dominated the whole game in the second half. … We had the lead two times in the last two minutes."
Now the Gladiators enter conference play – the Coast Conference has a good argument for being the best conference in the state. It had three teams in the top eight in last year's state tournament, and both finalists (champion CCSF and West Valley).
"Our conference has a chance to get close to six teams in (the NorCal playoffs)," McMiller said "There's only one team with a losing record (in the Coast-North).
"I'm excited for the gauntlet," said McMiller about the conference season. "It is going to be a dogfight every night. I think we are prepared for it."