Allentown Jets

Allentown Jets
Allentown Jets logo
LeaguesEPBL (1958–1970)
EBA (1970–78)
CBA (1978–1981)
Founded1957 (as Wilmington Jets)
Folded1981
HistoryWilmington Jets (1957–1958)
Allentown Jets
(1958–1979)
Lehigh Valley Jets
(1979–1981)
ArenaRockne Hall at Allentown Central Catholic High School
LocationAllentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Team colorsblue, orange, white
     
Championships1962, 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976
Division titles1961, 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

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

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

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