Delaware County Daily Times from Chester, Pennsylvania • Page 9

SPORTS DELAWARE COUNTY DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, MARCH 27,1976 D-C girls win Class AA title Unton Coach Ed Jamtem congratulates D-C players Dentee Morris (13) and Tanya Clifton Union's Clifton battle for possession of ball Other teams appear loose, but Indiana's Knight edgy ByRICHPODOLSKY Dally Times Staff Writer PfflLADELPfflA-By 6:30 p.m. this evening it will be known to the NCAA college basketball world exactly which two teams will meet for the championship. Four remain. Indiana, Rutgers, Michigan and UCLA. Today, starting at 2:15 p.m.

(Channel 3) they will start eliminating each other. Yesterday the four clubs practiced at the Spectrum at one hour intervals before a crowd of about 5,000 who were let in free. Michigan was loose. Practiced firest and had a reserve, Joel Thompson, bend the rim in a dunking drill. Rutgers breezed through an hour drill then laughed through an interview session.

UCLA had some fun too, shot around, then worked a scrimage. But Indiana. Only worked 30 minutes then refused the press access to the players while coach Bobby Knight double-talked. Example: Knight was asked about having the favorite role against UCLA, who his team ate up in November. "I have found that those who make predictions," Knight said, "are generally wrong.

And after they're wrong, they change their predictions." Example: Knight was asked how to stop UCLA. "We've got to prevent them from doing the things they like to do beat" What things? "Ask Gene Bartow," he snapped. Michigan's Johnny Orr, on the other hand, was a refreshing change from the snide Knight. He said of the dunking drill only bring that playeralongtobreakrims." Of his game with Las Vegas he joked, "They're very fast especially in Vegas." Then Michigan's Steve Grote added, "It was like they'd play three-on-three and throw up a 25foot jumper and everybody would crash. I never saw more of a street bunch in my life." Orr was also informative.

He indicated Wayman Britt would be matched against Rutgers' Phil Sellers and that Ricky Green would cover the Scarlei Knights' tough pard Ed Jordan. Rutgers' Tom Young confirmed the identical matchups from his'side. But all Bobby Knight would say about who would cover who, was, "We haven't decided yet." Although both Rutgers and Michigan like to run and are very quick teams, Orr pointed out Rutgers uses the long pass more often. Michigan just gives the ball to Green and he flies past people. Grote, the 6-2 junior guard feels Rutgers will have to abandon its pressing tactics against Michigan.

"to the three years I've been here," Grote said, "nobody's had any luck pressing us. We've played UCLA two of the last three years and they dropped the press right after they tried it. It just doesn't work against "Rutgers, though, reminds me of the kind of team we were when I was a freshman. They will do anything to put pressure on you. They have people all over, doubling up and trapping.

We're more of a control fast-break team." Young confirmed that Rutgers will not give up on the press that easily. "We wouldn't press them if that wasn't one of the best facets of our game," he said. We got here pressing, if it's not working we can Then someone asked Young for the 99th time this year if he didn't feel the Knights had a soft schedule to obtain their 31-0 record. Young vibrated in his chair, picked up the mike and retorted. "It leaks me off to hear that bleeping question." Then he slammed down the mike and looked at his players, Phil Sellers and Ed Jordan and they all laughed.

While Knight was giving no more than cold water in the winter to the press, Bartow was cordial and interesting. He revealed that he consults former UCLA coach John Wooden often. Even had lunch with him last Monday to ask his advice on how to prepare the Bruins for the week of the Final Four. "John Wooden has been very close," he said. "I've called on him on several occasions.

We've had discussions about basketball, about golf, about life in I feel things have gone as well as could be expected for me, considering I'm following a living legend." The question of UCLA's meeting with Indiana the first game of the season came up again. Indiana blew the Bruins out of the gym. What's the difference this time. Bartow patiently explained. "In November," he said, "I was running a lot of people in trying to find the right combinations.

Now we're stabilized and a much better team." But Knight had a fierce answer. It seemed like he came to fight the press, not to meet it. "The first time we played them doesn't mean a thing," he said. "You can take all that psychological stuff you guys think make good copy and wrap it up and throw it the bleep For UCLA it will be a homecoming for Andre McCarter who Bartow said would've walked to Phffly to be part of this. Unfortunately, he may feel like walking back later tonight.

By JACK CARNEY Daily Times Staff Writer HERSHEY- What was called "a joke" during the year became reality Friday for the Darby-Colwyn girls basketball team when it defeated Union 50-38 to win the state AA championship. "We planned on winning this all year," winning coach Sandra Nagle said. "Really, we talked about it all year, but deep inside, I don't know if we really thought it could happen. It was like a joke to us." The win culminated a perfect season for Darby-Colwyn at 25-0, while Union dropped to 24-1. "I've been coaching here for 15 years and I've had other unbeaten teams," Nagle said, "but I think this is probably my best group of girls.

"The playoffs are relatively new, so this is our first championship, although we've won several league (Suburban m) titles." Sophomore Colleen Crane, overshadowed during the regular season by junior Judy Dougherty and senior Tanya Clifton, was the offensive sparkplug the winners needed. TJie 5-7 forward went scoreless in the first quarter when Union jumped to a 12-8 advantage, but came back strong in the final three periods to lead everyone in scoring with 20 points. "She's been our fourth-quarter girl all year," Nagle said of Crane. "I told her on the bus coming here to begin the first quarter like it was the last. "Colleen's a pressure ballplayer.

She's the youngest girl on the floor for us and lets the others do the work early, but when we need her, she comes through." Union was leading 15-12 early in the second period when Crane decided to go to work. She scored her first basket and made one of two i foul attempts to knot the game at 15: al; and with two minutes left in the half made two straight field goals, putting her team ahead 23-19. Darby-Colwyn never trailed after that. In the second half, when Union was bidding to make a comeback, Crane scored 12 of her 20 points, while the entire Union squad could manage just 17. Darby-Colwyn was led throughout the regular season in scoring by Clifton (24 points per game) and Dougherty (18), but they combined for just 19 in the finale.

Despite her below average scoring output, Clifton still was pleased with her performance, even though she fouled out for the second game in a row. "I guess I was playing too hard here," Clifton said. "Those were the first two games I've fouled out since my sophomore year. "But I was sure we were going to win the championship. We were a together team all year.

I'm a little upset for fouling out, but otherwise, I think I did all right." She finished with 10 points and paced the team with 12 rebounds. Darby-Colwyn's Colleen Crane (22) attempts shot "This was my last high school game," Clifton said. "I'm not sure yet if I'm going to college or not. It hasn't really hit me yet, about not being able to play anymore." The only other senior starter, point guard Debbie Bechta was more certain about her future status. "I'm going to West Chester and I hope I'll be able to play basketball," she said.

Bechta finished with nine points and eight assists to lead both teams in that department. The last time a Darby-Colwyn team won a state title a sign was erected entering Upper Darby reading: "Welcome to to the home of Class State Champs 1972" recognizing the boys basketball crown. "Now I hope we get a sign like that one," coach Nagle said. "Why not?" In the girls consolation game prior to the Darby-Colwyn win Kennedy Christian Pottstown St. Pius 45-37.

Six girls were selected to the all- tournament team chosen by the media represented at the event. Tanya Clifton, Debbie Bechta and Colleen Crane won three of the six spots. The other first-teamers included Kathy Glutz of St. Union's Jody fleeter. Heeter scored just six points in the finals, although she had 11 in Thursday's semifinals.

Darby-Colwyn outrebounded Union 45-39. Helping Clifton on the boards were Dougherty and Margie Roesner, a junior, with 11 rebounds each. Union was paced by Boef Vidunas with 12 and Dianna Roland's 11 caroms. Union coach Ed Jamison on his team's first loss of the year. "It was a good year," he said.

"We worked hard to get here. "I thought we had Darby scouted real well. They didn't fool us with anything, but they played a real good game. I didn't think they'd be able to force the ball inside on us, but that's exactly what they did. "A lot of our girls are crying now, but I told them not to hang their beads.

Darby-Colwyn has a good basketball team and it's no disgrace to lose to them." 4 10; I MM I RMHHT IMl; MarmSMO. TWlll UM-MM. UNION: MMdlfrll; VUHMIMMI (-1191. MO. TOUto II.