1945–46 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons season

The 1945–46 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons season was the fifth season of the franchise in the National Basketball League. The team was looking to return to the finals for a fifth consecutive year and win their third straight title. The team once again claimed the best regular season record by winning 26 games and Bobby McDermott was awarded his fourth and last NBL MVP Award. Both Buddy Jeannette and Robert McDermott were named to the All-NBL first team. Going into the playoffs the Pistons met the Rochester Royals in the first round but were upset in four games making it the first season in team history where they failed to reach the finals. This season marked the end of the Pistons NBL dominance as both McDermott and Jeannette left the franchise within the next year.

1945–46 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons season
Head coachCarl Bennett
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
PlaceDivision: 1st
Playoff finishLost Eastern Division Semifinals to Rochester Royals, 3-1

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1944–45 1946–47 >

Roster

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Rank Player Position
1 Robert McDermott G
2 Ed Sadowski C
3 Buddy Jeannette G
4 Jake Pelkington C-F
5 Chick Reiser G-F
6 Gerard Bush F-C
7 Charley Shipp G-F
8 Robert Synnott F-C
9 Bob Kinney C-F
10 Bob Tough G-F
11 Herm Schaefer G-F
12 Wilfred Doerner F
13 Curly Armstrong G-F

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League standings

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Eastern Division

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Pos. Eastern Division Wins Losses Win %
1 Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons 26 8 .765
2 Rochester Royals 24 10 .706
3 Youngstown Bears 13 20 .394
4 Cleveland Allmen Transfers 4 29 .121

Western Division

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Pos. Western Division Wins Losses Win %
1 Sheboygan Red Skins 21 13 .618
2 Oshkosh All-Stars 19 15 .559
3 Chicago American Gears 17 17 .500
4 Indianapolis Kautskys 10 22 .313

Awards and honors

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References

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