Allentown Jets

Allentown Jets
Founded 1957, as Wilmington Jets
League EPBL 1958-1970
EBA 1970-1978
CBA 1978-1981
Arena Rockne Hall, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, Pa.
Team History Wilmington Jets
1957-1958

Allentown Jets
1958-1979
Lehigh Valley Jets
1979-1981

Championships 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976
Division Titles 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 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 dominant 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, rebounder Harthorne Wingo, and 3-point specialist Brendan McCann & Bill "BO" White. 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.

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

Year League Reg. Season Playoffs
1958/59 EPBL 8th Did not qualify
1959/60 EPBL 3rd Semifinals
1960/61 EPBL 1st Finals
1961/62 EPBL 1st Champions
1962/63 EPBL 1st Champions
1963/64 EPBL 1st Semifinals
1964/65 EPBL 4th Champions
1965/66 EPBL 3rd, Eastern Quarterfinals
1966/67 EPBL 2nd, Western Semifinals
1967/68 EPBL 1st Champions
1968/69 EPBL 3rd, Western Quarterfinals
1969/70 EPBL 1st Champions
1970/71 EBA 2nd, Southern Semifinals
1971/72 EBA 1st Champions
1972/73 EBA 4th Quarterfinals
1973/74 EBA 1st, Western Finals
1974/75 EBA 2nd Champions
1975/76 EBA 1st Champions
1976/77 EBA 1st Finals
1977/78 EBA 4th, Western Did not qualify
1978/79 CBA 2nd, Southern Semifinals
1979/80 CBA 1st, Southern Quarterfinals
1980/81 CBA 4th, Eastern Quarterfinals

See also

References

  1. ↑ "History of the Eastern League". Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  2. ↑ "History of the Continental Basketball Association". Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
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