Interest was intense 25 years ago this week, as Springdale and Washington matched undefeated records in the WPIAL Class AA championship game at the Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House.
On March 9, 1985, the Dynamos (24-0) lost the title game to the Little Prexies, 69-60, before a sellout crowd of 6,586.
The game culminated the basketball rise for Springdale, which played in its first WPIAL championship game under coach Harry Orbin after fielding a number of quality teams over the years. It was a special group that had its sights set on the WPIAL title since fourth grade.
Greg Martucci, who led the team in scoring with a 29.5 per game average and played at Holy Cross, recalled his own rocky start.
"When I started in fourth grade, I was awful," Martucci said. "But I attribute my success to Harry Orbin and (coach) Dave Thompson, who was there before him. They taught me the fundamentals."
By the time the group reached ninth grade, it defeated Washington in a spring Deer Lakes tournament. The Dynamos also played in the super-competitive Ozanam League, based in Pittsburgh's Hill District.
Springdale qualified for the 1983 WPIAL playoffs with Martucci and fellow sophomore John Simcic in the lineup. The Dynamos earned a playoff berth and knocked off Union Area in an opening-round playoff game, only to lose to eventual champion Sto-Rox.
Sto-Rox won handily, though Springdale qualified for the PIAA playoffs as the No. 5 team from the WPIAL. The Dynamos lost to Corry in the PIAA opener, but something big was brewing.
Springdale followed that with a section title the following year, as the PIAA went to four classifications. The program welcomed back point guard Mickey Dreher, whose family had moved to Texas two years earlier.
"Mickey was a cog in that machine as a point guard — he was a pure passer," Orbin set.
The Dynamos, however, dropped a close decision to Northgate in a second-round playoff game in the WPIAL's open format.
As the 1984-85 season approached, expectations were high at Springdale.
Though he was 6-foot-5, Orbin had moved Martucci to shooting guard, where he would be primed for college play. Martucci then would move to the inside on defense with the 6-3 Simcic, junior Rick Reed and senior Dave Matisko.
"We used him as a swingman, like a 3-guard you see now," Orbin said. "Teams had trouble guarding him. I wish they had the 3-point shot then to see how many points he could score."
Springdale started the season with a 55-42 win at Deer Lakes, a school that would make its only PIAA appearance later that season.
The Dynamos rolled through their section and nonsection opponents, winning by an average of 40 points.
A key test loomed for Springdale at the section break when if faced Hampton, the previous season's PIAA Class AAA Western Region representative, in the state title game at Hershey. The Talbots were led by Brian Shanahan, later a star at Duquesne.
The most difficult task that night was getting up the icy roads leading to Springdale High School. The Dynamos pounded the Talbots, 86-50.
Springdale's drive to the title game was nearly derailed by Serra Catholic in the WPIAL semifinals at Valley High School. Martucci picked up his fourth foul with 3:21 left in the second quarter and was benched until the start of the fourth period.
Serra took a 39-33 lead in the third period, but a foul shot by Matisko sent the game into overtime. Matisko hit four points in overtime to give Springdale a 53-50 decision, setting the stage for the game with Wash High.
"Washington was so quick that Coach Orbin had us practice against six defenders," Martucci said. "There was quite a buildup to that game."
In fact, there were so many advance tickets sold that the WPIAL had to move the game from Friday night to Saturday afternoon to avoid overselling Fitzgerald Field House.
Springdale led the Little Prexies, 28-26, at the half. But Washington's quickness forced Springdale into 30 turnovers, and Brian Davis' basket with 1:11 left in the third period gave the Little Prexies the lead for good.
Both teams had hoped to meet again in the PIAA playoffs, but that never materialized. Washington was upset by eventual state champ Serra, and Springdale was eliminated by Johnstown's Bishop McCort.
