1952-53 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)

1952-53 SUNBURY MERCURIES
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
17-3*, 850, 1st place
Semi-finals: Lost to Berwick, 2-1

* doesn't include victory over Wilkes-Barre Aces

Stan Novak's Sunbury Mercuries scored 200 points combined in their first two games of the season, both lopsided victories over Lebanon before being stunned at Harrisburg. From that point on, the Mercuries were essentially unstoppable. They rattled off 11-straight wins (not including a vacated win over Wilkes-Barre) before falling at Lancaster over 2 months after their Harrisburg loss. They won another four before losing the last game of the year to the Williamsport Billies. Their 17-3 record was a whole four games ahead of the second-place Billies, and the Mercuries were poised to roll through to the cup but were upset by the underdog Berwick club. Veteran star of the state Jack McCloskey averaged 20.5 points, with Jack Ramsay (15.7), Hank Dudek (13.8) and Jerry Rullo (13.7) contributing a large share of points.

Head Coach:

• Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)  Also played. See below

PLAYERS:

Art Nazigian

Bart "Jabbo" Adams 

Hank Dudek (September 11, 1925 - September 14, 2015)

Dave Fox  (May 24, 1926 - May 9, 1984)

Dick Koecher (March 30, 1926 - February 4, 2020)

Herb Lyon (August 4, 1927 - October 21, 1966)

Jack McCloskey (September 19, 1925 - June 1, 2017)

Art Nazigian (March 24, 1930 - December 21, 2014)

Stan Novak (April 10, 1923 - October 21, 2006)

Jack Ramsay (February 21, 1925 - April 28, 2014)

Jerry Rullo (June 23, 1922 - October 21, 2016)

John Weglicki (August 13, 1928 - September 4, 1985)

Dave Werther (December 4, 1928 - October 24, 1997)

John Weglicki