Boys Basketball: Miller’s 300th win displays Upper Darby’s depth

UPPER DARBY >> There were the customary handshakes on the court, a quick cheer led by the players in the locker room … and that was about all that feted Upper Darby’s victory Friday night.

Never mind that it was the 300th in the coaching career of Bob Miller, split between Interboro and now his 23rd season at Upper Darby.

But if the celebration is to be tailored to the man of the hour, then the understated vibe fit perfectly. Even Miller, in recounting the 299 wins which preceded Friday’s 54-46 Central League decision over Haverford, started just about everywhere but with himself — a rattling off of assistant coaches he was fortunate to work with and a rapid turn of the spotlight onto the players.

“There’s been so many great (assistants) that have done so much, and you can’t win without players,” Miller said. “At the end of the day, 300 is nice, but it’s about Upper Darby’s kids.”

“It means a lot because he emphasized this season that we have to play hard, work hard in practice and do a lot of the things we were doing last year,” senior guard Magd Abdelwahab said. “And this year, I think we’re a lot better than we were last year and a lot more focused. So 300 wins is a great accomplishment for him, and we’re all happy for him.”

There was plenty for Miller to highlight in win No. 3 of a season packed with possibility for the Royals, a night where they led by 16 before the Fords dropped in the game’s final eight points to cushion the final margin. Contained within Upper Darby’s performance were eight players who hit the score sheet, six who scored five or more points in liberally spreading the scoring load.

They outjumped Haverford on the boards, 36-18, and pocketed 12 steals to force 18 Haverford turnovers, giving the Fords fits with a full-court press and varied zone-defense looks.

Add in spurts of clutch shooting and the penchant for quickly filling the scoreboard when they limit their own turnovers, and the danger that the Royals (3-1, 1-1 Central) pose is obvious, especially when Miller rolls his bench 10 players deep.

“I know I can trust my team that when I go to the bench to rest … a lot of people on my team can come in and bring a lot of energy,” point guard Jalun Trent said. “And I trust my teammates with everything.”

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