The Allentown Jets were a minor league basketball team that played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League and 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.
History The team was founded as the Wilmington Jets in Wilmington, Delaware in 1957. The following year, in 1958, it relocated to Allentown, Pennsylvania. Among the Jets' top players were center Roman Turmon, NBA player and coach Ray Scott, scorer-rebounder Harthorne Wingo, and three-point specialist Brendan McCann.
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame inducted Richard Koffenberger, who played for the team in Wilmington. 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. The Jets had a working agreement with the New York Knicks, which sent several players to Allentown for playing time. Scott was the fourth player picked in the U.S. in the 1961 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.
In 1979, the franchise rebranded itself as the Lehigh Valley Jets, an effort to expand its fanbase throughout the greater Lehigh Valley; however, after the 1980–81 season, the Jets folded.
Year-by-year YearLeagueGp WLPct.Reg. seasonPlayoffs1958/59EPBL28622.2148thdid not qualify1959/60EPBL271512.5563rdLost EPBL Semifinals 139–102 Vs Easton Madisons1960/61EPBL28199.6791stWon EPBL Semi Finals 129–97 Vs Sunbury Mercuries, Lost EBPL Finals 119–104 Vs Baltimore Bullets1961/62EPBL27225.8151stWon EPBL Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Trenton Colonials, Won EPBL Championship 2–1 Vs Williamsport Billies 1962/63EPBL28208.7141stWon EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Williamsport Billies, Won EPBL Championship 2–1 Vs Wilkes-Barre Barons1963/64EPBL28217.7501stLost EPBL Semifinals 2–1 Vs Trenton Colonials1964/65EPBL281612.5714thWon EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Camden Bullets, Won EPBL Championship 2–1 Vs Scranton Miners1965/66EPBL281513.5363rd, EasternLost EPBL Eastern Division Semi Finals 133–114 Vs Trenton Colonials1966/67EPBL28199.6792nd, WesternWon Western Division Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Sunbury Mercuries, Lost Western Division Finals 2–1 Vs Scranton Miners1967/68EPBL32239.7191stWon EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Wilmington Blue Bombers, Won EPBL Championship 3–2 Vs Wilkes-Barre Barons1968/69EPBL281513.5363rd, WesternLost EPBL Western division Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Scranton Miners1969/70EPBL28208.7141stWon EPBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Hamden Bics, Won EPBL Championship Series 3–2 Vs Wilmington Blue Bombers1970/71EBA281513.5362nd, SouthernWon Southern Division Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Sunbury Mercuries, Lost Southern Division Finals 2–1 Vs Scranton Apollos1971/72EBA30219.7001stWon EBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Trenton Pat Pavers, Won EBA Championship 3–2 Vs Scranton Apollos1972/73EBA321517.4694thLost EBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Hartford Capitols1973/74EBA28208.7141st, WesternWon Western Division Finals 2–1 Vs Scranton Apollos, Lost EBA Finals 3–2 Vs Hartford Capitols 1974/75EBA301614.5332ndWon EBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Scranton Apollos, Won EBA Championship 2–1 Vs Hazleton Bullets1975/76EBA27243.8891stWon EBA Semi Finals 3–2 Vs Hazleton Bullets, Won EBA Championship 3–2 Vs Lancaster Red Roses1976/77EBA26215.8081stLost EBA Finals 3–1 Vs Scranton Apollos1977/78EBA311714.5484th, Westerndid not qualify1978/79CBA412120.5122nd, SouthernWon CBA First Round 2–1 Vs Jersey Shore Bullets, Lost Semifinals 3–1 Vs Rochester Zeniths1979/80CBA311912.6131st, SouthernLost CBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Maine Lumberjacks1980/81CBA401624.4004th, EasternLost CBA Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Rochester ZenithsTotalsEPBL/EBA570360210.632TotalsCBA1125656.500Franchise Totals–682416266.610
References
External links Continental Basketball Association franchise history Delaware Stars Wilmington Bombers List of professional sports teams in Delaware
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