For the second season in a row, Massachusetts remained in the spotlight by signing the best available professional talent. The New England League shuffled franchises with last year’s champion South Framingham squad moving to Natick, while the players that had represented that city moved north to the coastal community of Newburyport. Additional new teams were placed in Portsmouth and Amesbury to join holdover clubs in Haverhill and Lowell.
The first half of the split season format was won by Haverhill, led by 21-year-old Ed Wachter. In the second half, the talent-laden Natick squad quickly established itself at the top of the standings. Winnie Kinkaide, Joe Fogarty, Eddie Ferat, and Harry Hough won 17 of 21 games and the second half title. Outstanding teamwork and superior physical conditioning were largely responsible for the team’s superiority. Haverhill declined to participate in a playoff to determine an overall champion. Instead, Natick faced Lowell, the third place finisher in both halves, in the postseason matchup. Toby Matthews performed brilliantly for Lowell, but overall it was a mismatch and Natick quickly took three of four games.
For the second season in a row, Massachusetts remained in the spotlight by signing the best available professional talent. The New England League shuffled franchises with last year’s champion South Framingham squad moving to Natick, while the players that had represented that city moved north to the coastal community of Newburyport. Additional new teams were placed in Portsmouth and Amesbury to join holdover clubs in Haverhill and Lowell.
The first half of the split season format was won by Haverhill, led by 21-year-old Ed Wachter. In the second half, the talent-laden Natick squad quickly established itself at the top of the standings. Winnie Kinkaide, Joe Fogarty, Eddie Ferat, and Harry Hough won 17 of 21 games and the second half title. Outstanding teamwork and superior physical conditioning were largely responsible for the team’s superiority. Haverhill declined to participate in a playoff to determine an overall champion. Instead, Natick faced Lowell, the third place finisher in both halves, in the postseason matchup. Toby Matthews performed brilliantly for Lowell, but overall it was a mismatch and Natick quickly took three of four games.
Haverhill won the first half of the season and Natick won the second half title. The teams then agreed to meet in a post-season playoff for the league title.
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what a year. the competitiveness of the ABL really brought the NBA out of its duldrums.
what a year. the competitiveness of the ABL really brought the NBA out of its duldrums.