1952-53 Williamsport Billies (EPBL)

1952-53 WILLIAMSPORT BILLIES

EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE - PENNSYLVANIA
13-7, .650, 2nd place
Semi-finals: Defeated Lancaster, 1-0

Finals: Defeated Berwick, 2-1

Local sports figure Hod Springman was brought in to coach the Billies, and the stumbled to a woeful 2-6 start. Floundering near the bottom of the standings in early January, the team was revamped, adding Billy Chanecka, Jack Leighton and Chink Crossin (who were available following the dissolution of the Wilkes-Barre Aces). Williamsport would win 11 of the remaining 12 games and climb all the way into second place. They met Lancaster in the semi-finals and after winning game 1 of the scheduled best-of-three series, they wer edeclared winner after Lancaster failed to find a home court. Facing Berwick (who had just upset Sunbury) in the finals, Williamsport lost the opener by a basket at home, but would rebound to win the next two to claim the Presidents Cup.

Head Coach:

• Hod Springman (August 10, 1915 - August 13, 1996) 

PLAYERS:

Billy Chanecka (April 21, 1924 - January 27, 2010)

Chick Craig (July 23, 1922 - June 21, 2008)

Chink Crossin (July 4, 1923 - January 10, 1981)

Jack Crossin (June 7, 1927 - December 6, 2005)

Joe Gallagher (May 25, 1928 - April 10, 2013)

Ed Jones (July 8, 1928 - April 28, 2020)

Ray Kodish (June 10, 1923 - March 14, 2012)

Jack Leighton (January 25, 1928 - August 2, 1996)

Marty McKibbin (August 24, 1927 - December 6, 2009)

John Rusinko (March 1, 1925 - October 23, 2013)

Bob Smith (October 8, 1930 - April 19, 2018)

Perk Stabley (January 24, 1925 - September 25, 1994)