Chestnut Ridge Girls Basketball 1979-83
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2022
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2022
1979-1983 Chestnut Ridge Girls Basketball Teams
The Chestnut Ridge girls’ basketball team of 1979-80 through 1982-83 had an incredible run
of three District 5 titles and two Bedford County League titles, which were the first in Lady Lion
basketball history.
This was in an era when the girls’ basketball teams played in the fall, so head coach John Black
pulled double duty, coaching both the boys’ and girls’ teams during this time.
The 1979-80 team went 14-2 in the regular season, losing its only two games to a powerful
Northern Bedford team, and finished second in the BCL.
In the District 5-AA championship game, the Lady Lions got 32 points from Diane Wittmer to
help Ridge to a 57-52 victory over the Golden Eagles.
That championship game was in November, but the PIAA playoffs were not until March. In the
PIAA playoffs, Ridge faced Moniteau and dropped a 45-41 decision to end the season at 15-3.
With many of the players returning for the 1980-81 team, the Lady Lions had a strong season
again.
This time, the Lady Lions went 10-0 in the BCL with their only loss in the regular season
coming to Claysburg. However, the Lady Lions avenged that loss to beat the previously unbeaten Lady Bulldogs, 46-38.
Ridge rolled through the regular season, but Wittmer got hurt in the last game before the PIAA
playoffs.
The Lady Lions edged Turkeyfoot, 34-33, in the District 5-A quarterfinal before topping
McConnellsburg, 56-48, in the semifinal. The Lady Lions had another narrow margin of victory in the final with a 56-55 win over Shanksville for the championship.
With the PIAA playoffs several months away, Ridge and Shanksville played each other again
prior to the PIAA playoffs with Ridge getting a 57-54 win.
In the state playoffs, Ridge matched up with District 9’s Ridgway, who went on to be a state
semifinalist. The Elkers topped the Lady Lions, 48-38.
Ridge won the BCL the next year, and in 1982-83, the Lady Lions had another strong run,
going 18-3 in the regular season including 8-0 in the Bedford County League to win the title.
They split games with Hollidaysburg, Williamsburg, and Claysburg for their losses that season.
The Lady Lions won the District 5 title with a 74-24 victory over North Star.
In the PIAA playoffs, Ridge fell to Brentwood, 46-38.
Chestnut Ridge has won six district or subregional titles as well as six BCL titles in its girls’ basketball history with three of them during this four-year stretch.
The Chestnut Ridge girls’ basketball team of 1979-80 through 1982-83 had an incredible run
of three District 5 titles and two Bedford County League titles, which were the first in Lady Lion
basketball history.
This was in an era when the girls’ basketball teams played in the fall, so head coach John Black
pulled double duty, coaching both the boys’ and girls’ teams during this time.
The 1979-80 team went 14-2 in the regular season, losing its only two games to a powerful
Northern Bedford team, and finished second in the BCL.
In the District 5-AA championship game, the Lady Lions got 32 points from Diane Wittmer to
help Ridge to a 57-52 victory over the Golden Eagles.
That championship game was in November, but the PIAA playoffs were not until March. In the
PIAA playoffs, Ridge faced Moniteau and dropped a 45-41 decision to end the season at 15-3.
With many of the players returning for the 1980-81 team, the Lady Lions had a strong season
again.
This time, the Lady Lions went 10-0 in the BCL with their only loss in the regular season
coming to Claysburg. However, the Lady Lions avenged that loss to beat the previously unbeaten Lady Bulldogs, 46-38.
Ridge rolled through the regular season, but Wittmer got hurt in the last game before the PIAA
playoffs.
The Lady Lions edged Turkeyfoot, 34-33, in the District 5-A quarterfinal before topping
McConnellsburg, 56-48, in the semifinal. The Lady Lions had another narrow margin of victory in the final with a 56-55 win over Shanksville for the championship.
With the PIAA playoffs several months away, Ridge and Shanksville played each other again
prior to the PIAA playoffs with Ridge getting a 57-54 win.
In the state playoffs, Ridge matched up with District 9’s Ridgway, who went on to be a state
semifinalist. The Elkers topped the Lady Lions, 48-38.
Ridge won the BCL the next year, and in 1982-83, the Lady Lions had another strong run,
going 18-3 in the regular season including 8-0 in the Bedford County League to win the title.
They split games with Hollidaysburg, Williamsburg, and Claysburg for their losses that season.
The Lady Lions won the District 5 title with a 74-24 victory over North Star.
In the PIAA playoffs, Ridge fell to Brentwood, 46-38.
Chestnut Ridge has won six district or subregional titles as well as six BCL titles in its girls’ basketball history with three of them during this four-year stretch.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania