The summer of 1949 saw a major shift in t he world of professional basketball: The merger of the BAA and the NBL, forming the NBA. Four teams from the NBL joined the new NBA, and the other teams were left to their own devices. One such club was the Oshkosh All-Stars. In the 1948-49 season, Oshkosh won the NBL's Western Division and made the NBL championship, losing to Anderson in the finals. Despite the club's success, Oshkosh was too small of a city to be permitted to be part of the NBA. The All-Stars, or what was left of them, joined the WSBL for the 1949-50 season. Despite their pedigree, they could not muster a playoff spot and after the season they disbanded.
Oshkosh had taken the place of the Sheboygan Dicks, who left the WSBL following a couple disappointing seasons. North Fond du Lac also dropped and were replaced by neighboring Fond du Lac. An 8th team was awarded to Green Bay, to be coached by Russ Young, but the team withdrew before the start of the season, forcing league president George Johansen to revamp the schedule at the last minute.
Oshkosh dropped their opener by a single point to Neenah but then went on to win 7 of eight. Heavily expected to win the league, they were bested by Fond du Lac who won their first nine contest and finished the first half 10-2, one game ahead of Oshkosh. In the second half, Fond du Lac continued rolling, winning 11 of twelce and capturing the second half title as well. Oshkosh stumbled after a 3-1 start and finished third. New Holstein showed life in the second half with a 9-3 record but were in no position to catch the loaded Rockets of Fond du Lac.
Having won both halves of the season, Fond du Lac was declared champion without a championship series required.
There was a lot of weird events near the end of the season with New Holstein allegedly losing illegal players in a game against Manitiwoc. There was also a disputed game between Kimberly and Oshkosh that was declared a forfeit, but the official league standings don't match what newspaper articles seemed to indicate. Any remaining information about the results of this questioned games is scarce. Until that gets sorted out in research (which may never be uncovered), I am using the records I have from my research any not the standings listed in newspaper accounts.
Manitowoc Braves
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