CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Head Coach:
- Dave Schwanke (July 22, 1918 - July 7, 1997)
The attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into World War 2 at the beginning of the 1941-42 season. By season's end, all resources were being drawn in to the war effort. Almost all semi-pro basketball leagues went into hiatus in the summer of 1942, but the Connecticut State League chose to continue with only four clubs. The plans were for a 32-game season split into halves, but when New Britain withdrew at the end of December, the remaining teams opted to dump the split season and play the remaining games outright. The eastern seaboard and New England turned into a hotbed for military training and development, and there were enough athletes who joined the service who would find themselves stationed in Connecticut and New York. A lot of these players would play with independent teams from their base/station as well as being able to play in off-hours for local teams. Higher-tiered professional basketballers like Bob Calihan and Nick Shaback would play in the CSL while serving stateside, as well as some popular collegiate players from other regions of the country. The league limped to conclusion in late January with no champion crowned.
1941-42 WEST HAVEN RED DEVILS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
11-9, .550, 4th place
Semi-finals: Lost to Hartford, 2-1
West Haven looked good at the start, winning 10 of 14 from the start. They would hit a rough patch in later January, and would only win one of their last 6 games, and that was by forfeit. They managed to pound Hartford, 80-63, in the first game of the league semi-finals, but lost the next two to get eliminated.
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Bill Oliver |
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Joe Murphy |
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Jackie Goldsmith |
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Dick Kelly |
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Ike Eikenberry |
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Henny Zajac |