Friday, April 4, 2025

1942-43 New London Electric Boats (CSL)

1942-43 NEW LONDON ELECTRIC BOAT DIESELS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
11-4, .733, 1st place
(8-4 without New Britain contests; two of those New Britain wins were by forfeit)

Returning with Red Wallace and George Petrovick, the defending champs took advantage of having Bob Calihan and Nick Shaback in the area for military purposes. With those two added, New London would again win the regular season, finishing 11-4. Calihan, a former all-American at the University of Detroit, averaged 17.3 points and Wallace added 12.4 ppg. 

Head Coach:
  • Joe Kane (April 12, 1913 - January 10, 1988) Also played. See below
PLAYERS:

Nello Burian (January 23, 1920 - April 29, 1987)
Bob Calihan  (August 2, 1918 - September 22, 1989)
Perry Carlile (May 19, 1919 - February 11, 1987)
Jack Forrester 
Joe Kane (April 12, 1913 - January 10, 1988)
Ray Kite (September 14, 1918 - December 6, 1993)
George Petrovick (August 23, 1921 - February 10, 2016)
Nick Shaback (September 10, 1918 - January 5, 2010)
Elias Sieger (October 23, 1922 - April 25, 1978)
Eddie Sullivan (February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1987)
Red Wallace (July 12, 1918 - July 7, 1977)

1942-43 New Britain Lutherans (CSL)

1942-43 NEW BRITAIN LUTHERANS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
0-9, .000, 4th place (5 forfeit losses)

The Lutherans were blown out by 33 point in their opener to New London, followed with tan 18 point loss to Bridgeport. After almost beating West Haven at home, they would get drubbed by 29 point at West Haven. After forfeiting their December 10 game with New London, the Lutherans withdrew December 13, citing their inability to keep up with the skill levels of the other club.  They would forfeit 4 more games on the schedule before the league office decided to remove all New Britain games from the official standings.

Head Coach:
  • Dave Schwanke (July 22, 1918 - July 7, 1997) 
PLAYERS:

Ray Alderman (December 6, 1921 - December 7, 1978)
Hal Bradlau (March 11, 1917 - April 8, 1979)
Arnold Cormier (March 29, 1914 - January 24, 1992)
Aldo Fracchia (October 30, 1916 - February 8, 1968)
Stu Holcomb (November 2, 1916 - September 24, 1975)
Whitey Huber (September 22, 1918 - May 17, 1986)
Milt Knowles (July 20, 1922 - September 22, 1945)
Eddie Kozovich (February 2, 1918 - March 15, 2003)
Eddie Markowski (August 2, 1916 - March 18, 1988)
Pat Mazzarella (June 18, 1923 - July 19, 1989)
Alfred Rinas (July 3, 1921 - June 21, 1990)
William Rinas (August 23, 1922 - January 17, 2002)


Thursday, April 3, 2025

1942-43 Bridgeport Springwoods (CSL)

1942-43 BRIDGEPORT SPRINGWOODS
CONNECTICUT STATE BASKETBALL LEAGUE
10-5 .667, 2nd place (7-5 without New Britain contests)

The Springwoods lost some players to the war, so they managed to pick up Jack Mackey, Dennis Conley and Johnny Pyrch from the local Newfields, who failed to field a team this season. The Springwoods home curt, Sokol Hall, was destroyed by fire on December 11, 1942. Al Bike, the team manager, managed to secure Warren Harding High School as their new home court in time for the December 13 game with New London.
Bridgeport was 10-5 when the season was terminated due to the war effort, good enough for second place. New Britain had dropped from the league and all their results, be it a played game or forfeit, were removed from the official league standings. The Springwoods had defeated NB once (60-42 on 12/6) and had been award two forfeit wins, but their overall record was 7-5 after removing those results.
Jackie Bowden averaged 12.4 points in the nine games I found boxes for.

Head Coach:

PLAYERS:

Jackie Bowden (September 7, 1917 - October 4, 1995)
Dennis Conley (May 29, 1921 - January 7, 1973)
Al Crowley  
Jack Mackey (April 18, 1914 - February 5, 1993)
Len Napoli (January 28, 1925 - May 19, 2008)
Joe Oslai (January 27, 1923 - March 10, 1976)
Johnny Pyrch (May 7, 1919 - March 31, 2018)
Steve Salata (August 25, 1923 - June 5, 2012)
Tony Santone (May 30, 1919 - November 15, 1986)
Muzzy Spalluto (February 29, 1920 - June 28, 1997)