Windber Basketball Remembers
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Windber Basketball Remembers
You may never see another game played by a Windber squad, simply because it just doesn't happen very often for local teams.
( Nice write -up by Mike Mastovich)
The Chops....
Members of legendary Windber squad make return....
BY MIKE MASTOVICH
The Tribune-Democrat
Dubbed a team of destiny and labeled the “Cardiac Ramblers,” Windber’s "1986-87" Boys Basketball squad won over a tight-knit community during an historic run to Hersheypark Arena.
Twenty seasons later, the "1987" P.I.A.A. Class (AA) runner-up Ramblers will be honored during the Windber Rotary Holiday Basketball Classic on Wednesday and Thursday.
Most of the "15" players and two coaches from the ’87' silver medalists are expected to attend as host Windber, Westmont Hilltop, Everett and District #10’s Lakeview participate in the Rotary Tournament.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said Brian Costa, a senior in 1987, who works at Duke University. “The fan following was incredible. They even had signs hanging above the old Sheetz in Windber that said: ‘Last one out of town, turn off the lights.’ The whole town was there. It really put things in perspective. It was something that seemed like it was so unachievable and then it was there in our hands.”
Coach Emery D’Arcangelo’s District #5 champion Ramblers used defensive tenacity and a never-quit attitude, winning three straight playoff contests by a combined five points to reach the state final against District #3 Columbia. It didn’t hurt having 6-foot-4 senior Paul Romanchock in the paint, either.
“It was a close-knit group of guys,” said Romanchock, now a physical therapist in Johnstown. “I don’t think individually any of us were fantastic basketball players. As a team we played so many years together and jelled. It seemed like we weren’t going to lose. We were going to find a way to win somehow.”
The formula worked for 28-2 Windber until the state final. Columbia was another so-called team of destiny despite a 23-10 record and fourth-place district finish. The Crimson Tide won 49-43 over Windber.
The Ramblers led 9-2 early but Romanchock had foul trouble and sat much of the first half as Columbia took a 24-23 halftime advantage.
“Everything is sort of a blur,” Romanchock said. “When we came back home, it seemed surreal. Looking back on it, there are some good memories and some bad things that you don’t want to remember because of the way the game turned out. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
The run to the final was just as memorable.
After a one-sided 75-41 interdistrict win over Freedom, Windber won a low-scoring 28-27 playoff victory over Ligonier Valley, then edged District #7 champ Wilmington 55-52 in the Western Semifinal.
Windber assistant coach Bob Strittmatter boldly predicted a Windber win over Wilmington as he walked into Pitt’s Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. He even told Principal Virgil Palumbo the exact score: 55-52.
“I dreamed it twice, so I knew it was going to come true,” Strittmatter said during a 1987 interview. “I told Virgil before the game because I wanted to have proof afterward.”
The Ramblers next took a dramatic 45-44 win over District 10 Girard in the Western Final. Estimates had 1,400 blue-and-white clad Windber fans packed into Westminster College gym.
Romanchock had "19" points and took command of the game. But when Girard sagged four defenders around the big man, Windber’s Tracy Horner made a huge shot at the most opportune moment.
Horner had been uncharacteristically cool from the floor most of the game, making only a layup and missing several outside attempts.
When the Ramblers took possession with a little more than a minute left, trailing 44-43, Horner launched the game-winner from the top of the circle. Swish. Windber was headed to Hershey, right?
Girard took its final timeout with "29" seconds left, then worked the perimeter, looking for a potential winning shot. With under "10" seconds showing, Girard point guard Shawn Mehok, playing despite an arch injury, tried a spin move in the key, but shuffled his feet when his spin brought him face-to-face with Horner.
The turnover still wasn’t enough to ice the win. Girard’s Brian Maslar scooped up an errant inbounds pass and heaved a desperation 20-footer that banked off the rim. Windber fans poured onto the court as a shower of Hershey Kisses followed.
“Girard certainly was one of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever seen from our standpoint,” Romanchock said. “It was the best game I ever played in. The crowd reaction was amazing. Girard fans were as rabid as the Windber fans. They were No.#1 in the state. We were No. #2. Everyone believed we were going to find a way to win. It came down to the last shot and ended up going our way.”
Costa had outside forces on his side, too.
“My grandfather (Nick Costa) played in the Western Final "60" years earlier against Steelton,” Costa said of the ’27 Ramblers. “Windber ended up losing that game. It was almost "60" years to the day when we were playing Girard. He gave me the medallion he received from that game before he died. I remember I sewed it on the inside of my jersey for luck and we ended up winning that game.”
This is what it's all about !!!!
THE CHOPS
8)
( Nice write -up by Mike Mastovich)
The Chops....
Members of legendary Windber squad make return....
BY MIKE MASTOVICH
The Tribune-Democrat
Dubbed a team of destiny and labeled the “Cardiac Ramblers,” Windber’s "1986-87" Boys Basketball squad won over a tight-knit community during an historic run to Hersheypark Arena.
Twenty seasons later, the "1987" P.I.A.A. Class (AA) runner-up Ramblers will be honored during the Windber Rotary Holiday Basketball Classic on Wednesday and Thursday.
Most of the "15" players and two coaches from the ’87' silver medalists are expected to attend as host Windber, Westmont Hilltop, Everett and District #10’s Lakeview participate in the Rotary Tournament.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said Brian Costa, a senior in 1987, who works at Duke University. “The fan following was incredible. They even had signs hanging above the old Sheetz in Windber that said: ‘Last one out of town, turn off the lights.’ The whole town was there. It really put things in perspective. It was something that seemed like it was so unachievable and then it was there in our hands.”
Coach Emery D’Arcangelo’s District #5 champion Ramblers used defensive tenacity and a never-quit attitude, winning three straight playoff contests by a combined five points to reach the state final against District #3 Columbia. It didn’t hurt having 6-foot-4 senior Paul Romanchock in the paint, either.
“It was a close-knit group of guys,” said Romanchock, now a physical therapist in Johnstown. “I don’t think individually any of us were fantastic basketball players. As a team we played so many years together and jelled. It seemed like we weren’t going to lose. We were going to find a way to win somehow.”
The formula worked for 28-2 Windber until the state final. Columbia was another so-called team of destiny despite a 23-10 record and fourth-place district finish. The Crimson Tide won 49-43 over Windber.
The Ramblers led 9-2 early but Romanchock had foul trouble and sat much of the first half as Columbia took a 24-23 halftime advantage.
“Everything is sort of a blur,” Romanchock said. “When we came back home, it seemed surreal. Looking back on it, there are some good memories and some bad things that you don’t want to remember because of the way the game turned out. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
The run to the final was just as memorable.
After a one-sided 75-41 interdistrict win over Freedom, Windber won a low-scoring 28-27 playoff victory over Ligonier Valley, then edged District #7 champ Wilmington 55-52 in the Western Semifinal.
Windber assistant coach Bob Strittmatter boldly predicted a Windber win over Wilmington as he walked into Pitt’s Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. He even told Principal Virgil Palumbo the exact score: 55-52.
“I dreamed it twice, so I knew it was going to come true,” Strittmatter said during a 1987 interview. “I told Virgil before the game because I wanted to have proof afterward.”
The Ramblers next took a dramatic 45-44 win over District 10 Girard in the Western Final. Estimates had 1,400 blue-and-white clad Windber fans packed into Westminster College gym.
Romanchock had "19" points and took command of the game. But when Girard sagged four defenders around the big man, Windber’s Tracy Horner made a huge shot at the most opportune moment.
Horner had been uncharacteristically cool from the floor most of the game, making only a layup and missing several outside attempts.
When the Ramblers took possession with a little more than a minute left, trailing 44-43, Horner launched the game-winner from the top of the circle. Swish. Windber was headed to Hershey, right?
Girard took its final timeout with "29" seconds left, then worked the perimeter, looking for a potential winning shot. With under "10" seconds showing, Girard point guard Shawn Mehok, playing despite an arch injury, tried a spin move in the key, but shuffled his feet when his spin brought him face-to-face with Horner.
The turnover still wasn’t enough to ice the win. Girard’s Brian Maslar scooped up an errant inbounds pass and heaved a desperation 20-footer that banked off the rim. Windber fans poured onto the court as a shower of Hershey Kisses followed.
“Girard certainly was one of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever seen from our standpoint,” Romanchock said. “It was the best game I ever played in. The crowd reaction was amazing. Girard fans were as rabid as the Windber fans. They were No.#1 in the state. We were No. #2. Everyone believed we were going to find a way to win. It came down to the last shot and ended up going our way.”
Costa had outside forces on his side, too.
“My grandfather (Nick Costa) played in the Western Final "60" years earlier against Steelton,” Costa said of the ’27 Ramblers. “Windber ended up losing that game. It was almost "60" years to the day when we were playing Girard. He gave me the medallion he received from that game before he died. I remember I sewed it on the inside of my jersey for luck and we ended up winning that game.”
This is what it's all about !!!!
THE CHOPS
8)