1947-48 Columbus Mariners / Dayton Metropolitans

1947-48 COLUMBUS MARINERS / DAYTON METROPOLITANS
ALL-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Finished: 16-11 .593, 2nd place
Semi-Finals: Defeated Altoona, 3-0
AABL Championship: Defeated Youngstown, 3-1


After their January 14 win over Zanesville, the Mariners found themselves to deep into the red financially to continue. The league looked to add a team to take their place for the season, and found the Dayton Metropolitans to be receptive. The Mets were a popular barnstorming team at thetime with several flashy players like Sweetwater Clifton and Duke Cumberland. Introduced into league play on January 25, and inheriting the 5-7 record the Mariners had, the Mets won six of their first 8 games (with the only two losses coming at the hands of the front-running Youngstown Cubs). Playing a league schedule while still engaged in a very-full exhibition schedule, the workhorse Mets went 11-4 in the AABL to finish the season at 16-11. Two of the Mets' losses were by a single point.

Rolling into the playoffs, the Mets swept Altoona in the semi-finals to face the powerful Youngstown club in the league championship. Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the high scorer for the Mets who averaged 16.2 points in regular season league play, lead the Mets to a victory over the Cubs in 4 games.


COLUMBUS: (5-7)

Head Coach:

• Gene Scholz (September 28, 1917 - March 9, 2005) Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Harold Augsberger



Willie Garland



Glen Golden

Harold Augsberger (March 27, 1920 - April 23, 2006)

• Bob Clindaniel (May 31, 1922 - June 7, 1988)

Bob Whetstone

• Jim Garland (November 17, 1918 - January 30, 1995)

• Willie Garland (June 9, 1928 - July 19, 1996)

• Glen Golden (February 23, 1919 - July, 1986)

• Earl Kelly (March 26, 1921 - September 5, 1996)

• Babe Mazza (February 6, 1922 - September 12, 2008)

• Gene Scholz (September 28, 1917 - March 9, 2005)

• Vernal "Hap" Smith  (November 12, 1924 - c. 2015 or 2016)

• Bob Whetstone (June 27, 1919 - January 31, 2009)

DAYTON: (11-4)

Head Coach:

• Herb Brown (December 1, 1911 - August 21, 1993) 

Don Blanken

PLAYERS:

• Don Blanken (June 21, 1920 - October 21, 2009)

• Johnny Brown (April 9, 1922 - June 1, 2009)

• Nat Clifton (October 13, 1922 - August 31, 1990)

• Joe Colone (January 23, 1924 - July 1, 2009)

• Duke Cumberland (1913 - October 16, 1974)

• Chris Hansen (February 10, 1919 - April 28, 2002)

• Don Harvey (July 29, 1920 - November 26, 2008)

• Les Pugh (September 18, 1922 - February 25, 1979)

• Ollie White (March 27, 1923 - February 25, 2003)

• Roy Witry (September 28, 1923 - October 6. 2010)

Roy Witry