The season ended the same way it had begun: without a hint of doubt.

It was a collection of fresh faces representing backgrounds of all kinds. Yet, they just knew. This had to be the year. The talent was clearly in place; the mastermind was one of a kind; the desire was unmatchable.  And as strangers became brothers, the dream slowly took form.

From there, it was only a matter of 6 a.m. workouts, daily four-hour practices and precise focus while juggling multiple classes and sometimes jobs.

Fatigue had definitely made its presence felt. Through it all, however, the Fresno City College men’s basketball players strengthened their bond and their confidence in themselves and each other.

And so, it was only fitting that the Rams went into the State Championship game knowing the victory was theirs. They knew they had worked too hard and come too far to lose in the end.

“I would have bet the farm on it,” said head coach, Ed Madec.

Freshmen guard, Alex Perez, was just as confident. “If we played Yuba 10 times, we would have beaten them 10 times out of 10,” he said. Perez was named tournament MVP with 17 points.

The challenge for the Rams was to stay hungry at all times. Despite a 22 game winning streak and a blowout victory in just about every match, they could not be complacent – and until the ultimate goal was reached, the Rams never stopped.
“Madec is amazing at keeping the players motivated and making them realize it’s going to be a tougher tomorrow,” said assistant coach, Lucas Gabriel. “The guys stayed motivated, stayed humble and kept playing with a chip on their shoulder.”

Going into the championship game against Yuba College, the chip turned to a boulder. The No. 5 ranked Rams were out to prove they are No.1.  Adding to the fuel was a crowd which was clearly in favor of Yuba.

“We felt disrespected as the No. 5 seed,” said guard, Marcus Hall. “But it was a blessing in the end.”

On the eve of their match against Yuba, an emotional Madec told his team how badly he wanted the title. The players were more than ready to win the title for the man who has invited them into his home so many times and cooked meals for them.

“We have the best coach in the state. He is the master motivator,” said guard, Shailo Leafa. “He wanted it so bad. He deserves it.”

For Madec, it’s about more than a championship.  It’s about a commitment, a lifestyle, a family.

“My family is this program,” he says. “Everybody is giving their whole life to each other. It’s much bigger than the scoreboard.” Madec sees his wife and kids as well as his players as part of the program. His wife has become the team mom while his kids have built a strong bond with the players.

The players too have come a long ways since that first day of practice.

“These are my brothers forever,” said Alex Perez. I wouldn’t change this for anything.”

Day by day, possession by possession, the Rams inched closer to their goal.

“Although we’re in control of our variables, it’s another challenge to master the script. The daily and building blocks are all towards the long term goal. You have to set short term goals to reach the long term goals,” said Madec. ”Sometimes it’s one possession at a time. We talk about winning your practice, winning your day. We’re trying to cultivate a group of people to live and think in a particular way.”

Madec says winning is only a byproduct. What impressed him most is the character of his team.  It is a team with very few sophomores; Madec can’t be more proud of the leadership displayed by his sophomores. Flawless, impeccable, and masterful, he calls them.  “They couldn’t be better. The best I have ever seen. They lead by example,” said Madec. “This Fresno City College team is the most special team in my humble opinion.”

Sophomore Tomas Sanchez remembers too well the feeling of losing in the final four the previous season. “I didn’t want to feel that again,” he said. “It was the worst feeling.”

Even after the loss last year, however, Madec was quick to remind his players how proud he is of them. “All we talked about was about what a great year we had, about how we are happy to be in each other’s life, and how much we love each other,” said Lucas Gabriel. “We didn’t talk about the loss. We just celebrated another trip to the final four.”

There was nothing to be said about the next year. The Rams already knew what they must do. And they did. Through their competitive spirit, and a willingness to put the team ahead of any individual, the Rams got the job done.

“Every guy was about the team. It’s rare to get 14 players playing together as one,” said Gabriel. “Our goal is to always make practice harder than the games. We have the most intense, competitive, high level atmosphere you can imagine.”

With nine sophomores expected to return, the Rams will be ready for another title pursuit. In just a couple of weeks, it’s back to work.

Gabriel appreciates most the leadership provided by Madec. “He [Madec] knows when to be tough and when to show love,” he said.  “He knows when to turn the heat up and when to turn the heat down.”