The Hazleton Hawks were a professional basketball franchise in the Eastern Professional Basketball League. The Hawks, based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, joined the league in 1955, playing as the "Hazleton Professionals"; they were named the "Hawks" in their second season in the league.
In the team's first season, the franchise went through several different lineups and two coaching changes, but later made the playoffs by signing several players who had been part of the college point-shaving scandals, including Sherman White of Long Island University, Bob McDonald of Toledo University, and Ed Warner of CCNY. With that lineup, the team was able to reach the Eastern League finals in its first season - only to lose to the Wilkes-Barre Barons in a best-of-three series.
The 1957-58 season saw the Hawks finish with an 18-10 record, tying them for first place in the league with the Wilkes-Barre Barons and Easton Madisons; after a three-way playoff, the Hawks were seeded third in the Eastern League playoffs, where the team eventually lost to the Madisons.
Among the notable basketball stars who played for the Hawks were John Chaney, later to become coach of Temple University's men's basketball team; and Jack Molinas, who became a player-coach during the 1960-61 season.
The Hawks remained in the Eastern League until 1962, when after three consecutive losing seasons the franchise folded.
Year-by-Year
Hazleton Mountaineers, EPBL
Year
League
Record
Reg. Season
Playoffs
1954/55
EPBL
15-15
4th
Finals
1955/56
EPBL
11-15
5th
did not qualify
1956/57
EPBL
20-10
2nd
Finals
1957/58
EPBL
18-10
1st, tie
Semifinals
1958/59
EPBL
16-12
4th
Semifinals
1959/60
EPBL
9-18
7th
did not qualify
1960/61
EPBL
10-18
8th
did not qualify
1961/62
EPBL
4-21
8th
did not qualify
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