The fourth season of the AABL would wind up being its last. Altoona, Cumberland and Wheeling returned, but Sharon and Washington both departed. The league was able to coax clubs from three other Pennsylvanian towns (Beaver Falls, Erie and Johnstown) to join to bring the league back to six teams.
Tragedy struck the sport after midnight on January 11. The Johnstown club, coached by veteran basketball figure Nat Hickey, had finished a game in Wheeling that saw the Clippers on the losing end of a 107-72 pounding. On the way back towards Johnstown, a car driven by coach Nat Hickey slid on ice near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and hit a guardrail and then slid into oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle head-on. A third car, driven by Clippers business manager Harry Finley, also hit a guardrail trying to avoid hitting other vehicles. Coach Hickey, along with players Jim Reynolds, Bill Zitalie Jackie Joll, Bill Pavlick and Chuck Karmakovich, were injured and hospitalized. Karmakovich died the following afternoon, having a fractured skull. The Johnstown team announced an immediate suspension of the season, and on January 24, they chose to not continue the season.
Defending champions Cumberland changed their moniker to the SPHA's, and with dwindling attendance and an early six-game skid, they failed to make the playoffs and defend their title. The Wheeling Blues returned to form, going 18-6 to win the regular season crown before defeating upstart Erie in the championship series.
It was evident by the end of the season that the league would not survive, and although it wasn't until late summer of 1951 that it became apparent none of the remaining teams had interest in continuing in this fashion.
Altoona Flyers
Beaver Falls Tommies
Cumberland SPHA's
Erie Admirals
Johnstown Clippers
Wheeling Blues
Great work as always!
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