1943 World Professional Basketball Tournament

The 1943 World Professional Basketball Tournament was the 5th edition of the World Professional Basketball Tournament. It was held in Chicago, Illinois, during the days of 15–18 March 1943 and featured 14 teams. It was won by the Washington Bears, which consisted of may former New York Rens players,[1][2] who defeated the Oshkosh All-Stars 43–31 in the championship game. The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons came in third after beating the Dayton Dive Bombers 58–52 in the third-place game.[3] Curly Armstrong of Fort Wayne was named the tournaments Most Valuable Player.[4]

World Professional Basketball Tournament
1943
Tournament information
LocationChicago, Illinois
Dates15 March–18 March
Venue(s)International Amphitheater
Teams12
Final positions
ChampionsWashington Bears
1st runner-upOshkosh All-Stars
2nd runner-upFort Wayne Zollner Pistons
MVPCurly Armstrong
← 1942
1944 →

Results

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First round

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14 March - Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 57, Indianapolis Pure Oils 52[5]
14 March - Detroit Eagles 33, Akron Collegians 31[5]
14 March - Dayton Dive Bombers 46, Chicago Ramblers 41[5]
14 March - Minneapolis Sparklers 45, South Bend Studebaker Champions 44[5]

Quarter-finals

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15 March - Oshkosh All-Stars 65, Detroit Eagles 36[5]
15 March - Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 48, Sheboygan Red Skins 40
15 March - Dayton Dive Bombers 44, Harlem Globetrotters 34
15 March - Washington Bears 48, Minneapolis Sparklers 21

Semi-finals

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16 March - Washington Bears 38, Dayton Dive Bombers 30
16 March - Oshkosh All-Stars 40, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 39

Third place game

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17 March 1943
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 58, Dayton Dive Bombers 52
Chicago Stadium
Attendance: 11,000

Championship game

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17 March 1943
9:30 p.m.[6]
Washington Bears 43, Oshkosh All-Stars 31
Scoring by half: 27–15, 16–16
Pts: J. Isaacs – 11 Pts: R. Vaughn, L. Edwards – 6
Chicago Stadium
Attendance: 11,000
Referees: Pat Kennedy, Dutch Kriznicky

Individual awards

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All-Tournament First team

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All-Tournament Second team

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References

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  1. ^ Al White (March 13, 1943). "Washington Bears are former Rens". The Detroit Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Ex-Rens' stars now with Bears". The Pittsburgh Courier. March 13, 1943. p. 19. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ Wilfrid Smith (March 18, 1943). "Washington beats Oshkosh for Pro Title". Chicago Tribune. p. 26. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Washington takes crown in pro meet". Vidette-Messenger of Porter County. March 18, 1943. p. 8. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b c d e "Sparklers beat studebakers in pro meet, 45-44". Chicago Tribune. March 15, 1943. p. 22. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "Oshkosh faces Washington Five in meet final". Chicago Tribune. March 17, 1943. p. 30. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
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