Millar's Career Comes Full Circle

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- When Sarah Miller graduated from Knox High school in Melbourne, Australia, she had a dream. That dream was to play college basketball.

But the 18-year didn't know that dream would lead her 4,000 miles away from home and to Tahlequah, Okla. and Northeastern State University.

 That trip has now come full circle for the senior RiverHawk, who is preparing to play in the Lone Star Conference Tournament on Thursday and the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

It wasn't an easy decision for Millar to leave her homeland to pursue her dream.

"When I first told people what I wanted to do they thought I was crazy," said Millar. "I felt like I was at a point in my life where it was time to make a change. It was probably the hardest decision I've ever made. But it was worth it."

Not only was the decision hard for Sarah, but it was a difficult decision for her parents, Andrew and Heather Millar, to put their oldest child on an airplane, travel to another continent 4,000 miles away to play basketball.

"She always wanted to do it (play college basketball)," said Heather Millar. ‘It was her dream. It was hard for us, because she just turned 18 and to go to a place where she didn't know anyone. And, she had just been accepted into medical school in Australia.

"When Randy (Gipson) made the offer and she had decided to come over here or go to medical school. She told us her dream was to play college ball. We said to her that's what life is all about...about living your dream," said Heather Millar.

The road to Tahlequah for Sarah began when Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson was contacted by a coaching colleague in Australia.

"My friend sent me a DVD of Sarah and I watched her on tape and his recommendation carried a lot of weight with me" said Gipson. "His reputation was very good and he recommended her highly that she could shoot the ball and was an outstanding person.

"His assessment of Sarah was right on the money," said Gipson.

Gipson also had to win the trust of Sarah's parents, who were a continent away.

"It was the security of her coach (in Australia) who knew coach Gipson and from talking with Randy so much on the phone we had a feeling that it was going to work better for her here. We developed a trust between coach Gipson and us to send our daughter so far from home," said Heather Millar.

Sarah said without American basketball she would have had to play a lower level of basketball in her homeland, which according to Millar, is an entirely different game.

"I let my club coach Dam eon Carter know that I was really interested in coming here (United States) and playing college basketball. He had the contacts over here and put me in contact with Coach Gipson. He took a chance on me and it worked out."

Academics played a big part in her decision to attend Northeastern State. Prior to coming to the states, Millar had been accepted in medical school in Australia. She will graduate this May with a major in chemistry and a 3.96 grade point average, having only one B during her academic career. She plans to return to Australia and attend medical school.

"I took a chance on the school," said Millar. "I had never seen it, and had never been to America before."

Sarah's mother said academics played a major role in her decision, along with her basketball. "She has very high standards for herself education wise," said Heather Millar. "One of the reasons she chose this college was because of the academics.

"So it was important that they took her academics seriously and that she just didn't go someplace where she was just going to play basketball and not take her academic career seriously as well."

Following a 20-hour flight the newest RiverHawk arrived at Tulsa International Airport, where she was met by NSU assistant coach Matt Cole.

That's where her first experience in Oklahoma has been a topic of discussion between Cole and Sarah for over four years.

"When we got to the car she started to get inn on the left side, "said Cole. "In Australia that's the passenger side, opposite of our cars. The steering wheel is on the right side and they drive on the right side.

"Sarah immediately grabbed onto the seat when I was driving on the right side of the road. She thought we were going to plow into someone. That was her first experience in the U.S. We both look back on that and just laugh now," said Cole.

However, her first year at Northeastern State was a tough one, according to Sarah.

I've grown up a lot since my freshman year," said Sarah. "It was tough for me when I first came because I didn't see my parents for nine months.  There was a few times I wanted to just go home and I am sure coach wanted to pack me up and send me home. But I worked hard to get use to everything and to the game. I guess I was too stubborn to give up."

Gipson said Millar has worked hard to develop her game as a solid defender and ball handler. "We knew she could shoot the ball," said Gipson, adding "it was the other areas of the game, like defense, that has really improved.

"Her first year was very tough because the basketball here was very different from the club play Sarah was used too," said Gipson. "She barely got to play as a freshman and being away from her parents made it difficult also. But Sarah is a tough minded person, who has a strong set of goals and she was determined to play basketball in an American university."

Besides her ability on the court, Gipson said it's her "positive attitude and work ethic that she brings to the team which has played a big part in the RiverHawks success. "She has just been an outstanding leader for us, especially for the young players."

Her parents are in Tahlequah for a third time, spending three weeks to see their daughter play "American Basketball." They have been keeping up with their daughter's play the past four years via the internet.

"The time difference didn't prevent us of from listening to the games," said Andrew Millar. "I would set up my laptop on my bench in my garage where I was working on a car and listen to Bill (Huddleston, voice of the RiverHawks).

 "When the games are on here its mid-morning in Australia, so it's not too bad. A 6 p.m. game is 11 a.m. back home and 2 p.m. is a 7 a.m. for us.  Early in the season when they weren't on the internet we'd follow the game on live stats."

With her career nearing a close, Sarah said "I wouldn't trade one second of it. I've grown as a player and a person. I've never regretted it a second. It's been one of the best experiences of my life."

The RiverHawks are now hoping to send their friend from down under with a Lone Star Conference Championship ring on her finger and even more a Division II National Championship ring.

The 5-9 guard, who has averaged just over 4.7 points in 78 games in her reserve role over four seasons, said, "We are just taking it one game at a time and staying focused.

"As coach said, we haven't played our best basketball yet."