1947-48 Nashville Vols (SPBL)

1947-48 NASHVILLE VOLS
SOUTHERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
22-21 .512, 3rd place

Playoffs:
Advanced in Round Robin, 2-1
SPBL Championship: Lost to Montgomery, 3-1

John Hunter (L) and David Scobey of the Vols

Possessing a solid line-up of players like Joe Casey, Bill Duvier, Ken Redmond, Dave Scobey, Buck Sydnow and Felix Ray, much was expected from the Nashville club and coach Jess Mallory. They started off winning their first four games but then cooled off really quick, going 7-15 over the next 22 games. The Vols picked it up in late January, and managed to recover and finish with a 22-21 record and a third place finish. They advanced through the round robin and went on to face the Montgomery Rebels for the best-of-five championship series. Duvier's 26 points and Casey's 21 helped the Vols shock the Rebs in Game One, 92-74, and it seemed like a possible upset was in the making. The Rebels came back to even the series in Game 2 with a ten-point victory and then crushed the Vols in the next two games to win the championship. Overall, the Vols enjoyed a decent season at the gate, and readied themselves in the off-season for a title run in 1948-49.


Head Coach:

• Jess Mallory (December 27, 1912 - September 28, 2004)

PLAYERS:

• Joe Casey (July 31, 1926 - July 31, 2022)

Biography

• Tom Davidson 

Biography

• Adam DeBerry (April 23, 1918 - November 2, 2008)

Biography

• Austin DeJarnett (June 3, 1928 - November 8, 1987)

Biography

• Bill Duvier (June 16, 1927 - September 2, 2018)

Biography

• Travis Howard (July 31, 1917 - May 1, 1975)

Biography

• John Hunter (December 21, 1925 - November 7, 2000)

Biography

• Jess Mallory (December 27, 1912 - September 28, 2004)

Biography 

• Dan Manning (September 11, 1919 - July 19, 2009)

Biography

• J.T. Rakestraw (February 25, 1920 - September 12, 1999)

Biography

• Felix Ray (October 20, 1921 - September 4, 1982)

Biography

• Ken Redmond (January 8, 1926 - June 4, 2018)

Biography

• Harold Sanders (April 30, 1923 - May 7, 2012)

Biography

• Hoyte Sanford (November 25, 1928 - December 28, 2011)

Biography

• David Scobey (October 7, 1922 - May 11, 2008)

Biography

• John Sullivan (June 28, 1924 - March 3, 1990)

Biography 

• Buck Sydnor (September 19, 1921 - September 17, 2003)

Biography

• Jim Tankersley (September 26, 1927 - May 1, 2009)

Biography

• Clyde Whitehead (May 24, 1915 - May 18, 1987)

Biography