Our first two buzzer beaters were part of twenty win seasons that ended in post season play. However, the nature of buzzer beaters is such that they aren't limited to any one type of season. A year after Brian Ellerbe's winning shot against Temple, Rutgers was suffering the effects of losing multiple veteran players like Kevin Black, Roy Hinson and Rich Brunson. On February 9, 1984, the Scarlet Knights were 8-11 at risk of the program's first losing record in 20 years. Making things even more frustrating, five of the losses were by a total of 13 points. One positive sign was the end of a five game losing streak thanks to a close win over George Washington due in part to some clutch foul shooting by junior forward Chris Remley. Next up was a non-conference matchup with Notre Dame at the Continental Air Lines Arena in East Rutherford, the first basketball game ever between the two schools. Notre Dame under Coach Digger Phelps had won eight of its last nine and sported a 15-6 record on the way, they hoped, to the NCAA tournament.
Asbury Park Press - February 10, 1984
Thanks to 15 points from Tom Sluby, Notre Dame was in charge most of the first half and led 32-24 at the break. The Fighting Irish extended their lead early in the second half and were ahead 38-26 when Rutgers mounted a comeback. After a Brian Ellerbe layup, Steve Perry hit a jumper and John Battle contributed a three point play to cut the margin to 38-33. After that, however, Notre Dame regained control, extending the margin to nine with just 5:36 left in a game played without a shot clock. Fortunately, the box and one defense, Rutgers employed to contain Sluby was proving effective since Notre Dame had not scored a basket in the last two minutes and would not score again from the field. Even so Rutgers needed offense and, once again, Brian Ellerbe got things started with a corner jumper. Steve Perry scored off another rebound (one of his eleven for the game) and then followed that by making three of four free throws to bring Rutgers within two. Finally the Knights came all the way back to tie the game at 59-59 with 59 seconds left when John Battle hit both ends of a 1-1.
Record - February 10, 1984
Notre Dame was in possession and with no shot clock chose to hold the ball for what they hoped would be a game winning, preferably buzzer beating, shot. With just 13 seconds left, Digger Phelps called timeout to set up their final possession. Sluby made the inbounds pass to 6'10" Tim Kempton who tried to pass the ball back to Sluby, but Brian Ellerbe at 6'1" had other ideas. The Rutgers guard darted in between the two Notre Dame players and deflected the ball towards the sideline. He then jumped over and around the much taller Kempton without fouling and somehow got the ball to teammate Audra Bell without Kempton getting it first. It was one of the greatest hustle plays I've seen in over 60 years of watching Rutgers basketball, reminiscent of a similar effort by Darius Griffith against UCLA on the very same floor. Now it was Rutgers turn to take timeout to plan a game winning shot. Understandably Coach Tom Young designed the play to go to John Battle who had already scored 23 points. Equally understandably, Notre Dame had no intention of letting Battle beat them.
Record - February 10, 1984
After inbounding the ball to Perry, Chris Remley got it back in the backcourt and dribbled into the forecourt looking for Battle who was closely guarded by Notre Dame. Recognizing there wasn't time to pass the ball, the Rutgers junior continued to dribble to a point slightly to the left of the head of the key. From 22 feet, Chris "just fired" what he called "a pretty good shot." It was more than "pretty good." The ball swished through the basket with one second left leaving the Irish only a desperation pass that bounced harmlessly away. In a classy post game comment, Kempton of Notre Dame said Rutgers won because "they outhustled us." The rebounding figures support that view. After being pounded on the boards 19-8 in the first half, Rutgers did a complete turnaround in the second half by exactly the same ratio. Steve Perry led the way with 11 boards in addition to 12 points and John Battle led Rutgers in scoring with 23. While it was not a league game, the win marked a turning point as the team won six of its next seven, ending the season with a 15-13 mark. Non-conference or not, the magnitude of the win and especially the shot couldn't be under estimated. As Chris Remley aptly put it - "That's tradition we beat, not just a team."
The game winning shot was the second of Chris Remley's career, following one he made in a high school Christmas tournament, interestingly in Piscataway, although not at Rutgers. Upon graduating from college, Chris was drafted by the Boston Celtics before going overseas to play professional basketball in both Ireland and Australia. After two years in Australia, Remley returned to the United States and began a long teaching career in the Rahway, New Jersey public schools. In addition to teaching, Chris has enjoyed an almost 30 year coaching career in multiple sports including tennis, golf, boys and girls soccer and, of course, basketball. He has the distinction of being the second high school coach in New Jersey sports history to have won a sectional championship in both boys and girls basketball.
No comments:
Post a Comment