Allentown Jets
| Allentown Jets | |
|---|---|
| Allentown Jets logo | |
| Leagues | EPBL (1958–1970) EBA (1970–78) CBA (1978–1981) |
| Founded | 1957 (as Wilmington Jets) |
| Folded | 1981 |
| History | Wilmington Jets (1957–1958) Allentown Jets (1958–1979) Lehigh Valley Jets (1979–1981) |
| Arena | Rockne Hall at Allentown Central Catholic High School |
| Location | Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Team colors | blue, orange, white |
| Championships | 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976 |
| Division titles | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980 |
The Allentown Jets were a minor league basketball team that played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (later the Eastern Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association) from 1958 to 1981. The team was one of the most successful franchises in CBA/Eastern League history, winning eight playoff championships and 12 division titles.
Originally formed in 1957 as the Wilmington Jets, the team relocated in 1958 to Allentown, Pennsylvania.[1] Among the Jets' top players were center Roman "Big Daddy" Turmon, Ray Scott NBA player and coach, scorer-rebounder Harthorne Wingo and 3-point specialist Brendan McCann. The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame inducted Richard Koffenberger, who played for the team in Wilmington. The Jets had a working agreement with the New York Knicks, who sent several players to Allentown for playing time. Scott was the fourth player picked in the US in the 1961 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, the Jets PR maestro, Johnny Kimock navigated this successful transition making the Jets one of the elite EBL teams. In 1964, the Jets played an interleague contest with the Grand Rapids Tackers of the Midwest Professional Basketball League. The Jets won 138–136, winning the only minor league "World Series of Basketball" interpromotional game ever held.
In 1979, the franchise rebranded itself as the "Lehigh Valley Jets," in an effort to greater regionalize its fanbase; however, after the 1980–81 season the Jets closed up for good.[2]
Year-by-year
[edit ]| Year | League | Gp | W | L | Pct. | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958/59 | EPBL | 28 | 6 | 22 | .214 | 8th | did not qualify |
| 1959/60 | EPBL | 27 | 15 | 12 | .556 | 3rd | Lost EPBL Semifinals 139–102 Vs Easton Madisons |
| 1960/61 | EPBL | 28 | 19 | 9 | .679 | 1st | Won EPBL Semi Finals 129–97 Vs Sunbury Mercuries, Lost EBPL Finals 119–104 Vs Baltimore Bullets |
| 1961/62 | EPBL | 27 | 22 | 5 | .815 | 1st | Won EPBL Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Trenton Colonials, Won EPBL Championship 2–1 Vs Williamsport Billies |
| 1962/63 | EPBL | 28 | 20 | 8 | .714 | 1st | Won EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Williamsport Billies, Won EPBL Championship 2–1 Vs Wilkes-Barre Barons |
| 1963/64 | EPBL | 28 | 21 | 7 | .750 | 1st | Lost EPBL Semifinals 2–1 Vs Trenton Colonials |
| 1964/65 | EPBL | 28 | 16 | 12 | .571 | 4th | Won EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Camden Bullets, Won EPBL Championship 2–1 Vs Scranton Miners |
| 1965/66 | EPBL | 28 | 15 | 13 | .536 | 3rd, Eastern | Lost EPBL Eastern Division Semi Finals 133–114 Vs Trenton Colonials |
| 1966/67 | EPBL | 28 | 19 | 9 | .679 | 2nd, Western | Won Western Division Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Sunbury Mercuries, Lost Western Division Finals 2–1 Vs Scranton Miners |
| 1967/68 | EPBL | 32 | 23 | 9 | .719 | 1st | Won EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Wilmington Blue Bombers, Won EPBL Championship 3–2 Vs Wilkes-Barre Barons |
| 1968/69 | EPBL | 28 | 15 | 13 | .536 | 3rd, Western | Lost EPBL Western division Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Scranton Miners |
| 1969/70 | EPBL | 28 | 20 | 8 | .714 | 1st | Won EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Hamden Bics, Won EPBL Championship Series 3–2 Vs Wilmington Blue Bombers |
| 1970/71 | EBA | 28 | 15 | 13 | .536 | 2nd, Southern | Won Southern Division Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Sunbury Mercuries, Lost Southern Division Finals 2–1 Vs Scranton Apollos |
| 1971/72 | EBA | 30 | 21 | 9 | .700 | 1st | Won EBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Trenton Pat Pavers, Won EBA Championship 3–2 Vs Scranton Apollos |
| 1972/73 | EBA | 32 | 15 | 17 | .469 | 4th | Lost EBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Hartford Capitols |
| 1973/74 | EBA | 28 | 20 | 8 | .714 | 1st, Western | Won Western Division Finals 2–1 Vs Scranton Apollos, Lost EBA Finals 3–2 Vs Hartford Capitols |
| 1974/75 | EBA | 30 | 16 | 14 | .533 | 2nd | Won EBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Scranton Apollos, Won EBA Championship 2–1 Vs Hazleton Bullets |
| 1975/76 | EBA | 27 | 24 | 3 | .889 | 1st | Won EBA Semi Finals 3–2 Vs Hazleton Bullets, Won EBA Championship 3–2 Vs Lancaster Red Roses |
| 1976/77 | EBA | 26 | 21 | 5 | .808 | 1st | Lost EBA Finals 3–1 Vs Scranton Apollos |
| 1977/78 | EBA | 31 | 17 | 14 | .548 | 4th, Western | did not qualify |
| 1978/79 | CBA | 41 | 21 | 20 | .512 | 2nd, Southern | Won CBA First Round 2–1 Vs Jersey Shore Bullets, Lost Semifinals 3–1 Vs Rochester Zeniths |
| 1979/80 | CBA | 31 | 19 | 12 | .613 | 1st, Southern | Lost CBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Maine Lumberjacks |
| 1980/81 | CBA | 40 | 16 | 24 | .400 | 4th, Eastern | Lost CBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Rochester Zeniths |
| Totals | EPBL/EBA | 570 | 360 | 210 | .632 | ||
| Totals | CBA | 112 | 56 | 56 | .500 | ||
| Franchise Totals | – | 682 | 416 | 266 | .610 |
References
[edit ]- ^ "History of the Eastern League". Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ "History of the Continental Basketball Association". Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
External links
[edit ]- Continental Basketball Association franchise history
- Delaware Stars
- Wilmington Bombers
- List of professional sports teams in Delaware
External links
[edit ]Media related to Allentown Jets at Wikimedia Commons
- Basketball teams established in 1957
- Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1981
- Defunct basketball teams in the United States
- Continental Basketball Association teams
- Sports in Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Professional basketball teams in Pennsylvania
- Defunct basketball teams in Pennsylvania
- Sports in Wilmington, Delaware
- 1957 establishments in Delaware
- 1981 disestablishments in Pennsylvania