(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from March 24, 1982).

By Craig Potter

Associate Sports Editor

READING - “Absolutely incredible.”

That’s how Northern Lehigh Coach Glenn Rissmiller described the Bulldogs’ come-from-behind 57-56 triumph over Darby-Colwyn Wednesday night at Geigle Complex.

The Centennial League champs advance to the state Class AA finals against Bishop Boyle, and 82-67 winner over Seton LaSalle in the Western final.

The Bulldogs (30-2), runners-up in District XI, take on the District VII champs Friday in the Hersheypark Arena.

“This is the greatest Bulldog comeback in a pressure situation,” Rissmiller told his team afterwards. “It has to be the greatest because of the pressure situation.”

The ecstatic Norlehi mentor commented, “This is the biggest thrill in my basketball coaching career without a doubt. Absolute dream of a lifetime.”

The team was also beside themselves though Blaine Waylen noted, “It hasn’t hit us yet. Probably sometime next week we’ll look back and say ‘what have we done?’”

What the Bulldogs did was to come from 14 points down (28-14) and knock off the District 1 champs.

The Rams took the opening tipoff and Jim Clifton slam-dunked the basketball just three seconds into play. Brian Waylen tied the game on an outside jumper as the two teams traded baskets for the first 12 points.

Darby-Colwyn then ran off 10 unanswered markers to go up 16-6 before Blaine Waylen connected on a baseline jumper. Clifton scored again on a drive to put the Rams ahead 18-8 at the quarter break.

The Waylen twins each notched a field goal in the first half of period two, but Darby-Colwyn found the range for 10 points during that stretch. Clifton gave the Rams their biggest bulge on a slam dunk.

Momentum Changes

From this point midway through the second quarter, the momentum began to swing towards the Bulldogs.

Larry Arndt, Craig Scheffler and Brian Waylen combined to cut the deficit to nine (30-21) with 10 seconds left, but Jim Clifton scored on a layup in the final two seconds for a 32-21 Ram lead.

The teams again traded buckets the first eight points of the third quarter and the lead fluctuated between 13 and nine points until 1:52 showed on the clock. Trailing 46-35, the Bulldogs tallied six of the final eight points of the period on field goals by Arndt, Blaine Waylen and Derrick Fatzinger.

Kevin Clifton scored from the baseline to start the fourth stanza. That was the Rams’ last field goal over the next four minutes.

Incredible Comeback

Arndt began the “Incredible Comeback” with a pair of free throws to make the score 50-43. Blaine Waylen also converted two from the charity stripe before Brian Waylen bombed in a corner jumper and Arndt hit a shot in the lane to make the count 50-49.

Brian put Northern Lehigh in front for the first time with a rebound bucket with 5:53 to play. The 6-4 senior forward then connected on another jumper from about 20 feet from the outside. Blaine ripped the twines from the corner for a five-point edge with 4:20 to go.

Darby-Colwyn refused to quit, however, and rattled off the next three field goals to regain the advantage, 56-55. Pat Thomas stole the ball and raced in for a layup to give the Rams the lead again.

The Bulldogs came back down court and had three shots at the basket before Brian put in a rebound for what proved to be the winning (and final) tally of the contest with 2:31 still showing on the clock.

Both teams missed numerous opportunities in the last two and a half minutes. Each squad also turned the ball over several times during that stretch.

Kevin Clifton missed a jumper with 20 ticks left. Blaine snared the rebound and eventually got the ball to his twin. Brian went to the line with 13 seconds left, but the Bulldogs’ best free throw shooter missed on the first half of the one-and-one.

Blaine attempted to grab the rebound, but turned it over. The Rams gained possession and called timeout with six seconds on the clock.

Rissmiller told his team to try and steal the ball, but if they foul it’s okay because they had one to give.

After seeing the Rams’ offensive setup, Norlehi called timeout. Blaine guarded Kevin Clifton in the near corner from the inbounds and fouled the Ram while trying to get the ball.

“I knew they were going to 22 (Kevin),” said Rissmiller. “I could see him setting up in the corner. Then we covered him pretty well.”

Darby-Colwyn got another chance to inbound with five ticks to go. Brian managed to deflect the pass, but Jim Clifton picked up the loose ball and threw up a desperation shot with three seconds ticking off. The ball hit the backboard and bounded right to Pat Porter, went through his hand where Fatzinger grabbed it and cradled it as time expired.

“That was the longest five seconds of my life,” remarked a relieved Rissmiller.

Hundreds of Northern Lehigh supporters rushed on to the floor to congratulate their heroes and celebrate an Eastern Championship.

“Our fans backed us and they really were enthusiastic,” Rissmiller stated, a feeling echoed by the team members.

“The fans really got us pumped,” pointed out Blaine Waylen. The whole Bulldog squad cited the fans for their support and the role they played in helping unnerve Darby-Colwyn down the stretch.

“We lost to a good team,” said a disappointed but not dejected Ram coach Bill Collins. “We just couldn’t stop their momentum.

“They did to us in the second half what we did to them in the first half. This is the first game we’ve been outrebounded.”

Norlehi hauled in 30 boards to 21 for Darby-Colwyn. The Rams also turned the ball over 20 times to 17 for the Bulldogs.

“We wish them good luck,” Collins stated. “No sour grapes here, we won like men all year and we’ll lose like a man should lose.”

For one of the four best teams in the state in AA, they are not losers, only second winners in the East.

GAME NOTES ... Brian led all scorers with 22 points. Blaine collected 14 and Arndt 13 with Fatzinger getting six and Scheffler two ... Kevin Clifton paced the Rams with 20 as Jim Clifton and Jim Dennis each bagged 12 and Porter eight ... Bulldogs shot 24-of-56 from the field and the Rams 27-of-60 ... Norlehi won game from foul line, connecting 9-of-14 while D-C was 2-for-2.

NORTHERN LEHIGH

Hunsicker 0-0-0-0, Br. Waylen 11-0-3-22, Arndt 4-5-7-13, Scheffler 1-0-0-2, Bl. Waylen 5-4-4-14, Fatzinger 3-0-0-6. TOTALS: 24-9-14-57.

DARBY-COLWYN

J. Clifton 6-0-0-12, K. Clifton 10-0-0-20, Ockimey 1-0-0-2, Thomas 1-0-0-2, Porter 4-0-0-8, Dennis 5-2-2-12, Barley 0-0-0-0, Jones 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 27-2-2-56.

No. Lehigh 8 13 20 16 - 57

Darby-Colwyn 18 14 16 8 - 56

Officials: Kreppich and Vogelsong.