First ABL Championship
In the inaugural 1925-1926 season of the American Professional Basketball League, the Rosenblums compiled a record of 23-7. Their leading scorers were John "Honey" Russell (216 points), Nat Hickey (198 points), and Carl Husta (158 points). On April 9, 1926, the Rosenblums won the ABL's first championship by defeating the Brooklyn Arcadians by a score of 23-22 in the final game of the league's first championship series played at Brooklyn's 71st Infantry Regiment Armory. The championship was decided in a best-of-five series, and the Rosenblums won in three consecutive games. The Rosenblums won the first and second games at Cleveland's Public Hall by scores of 36-33 and 37-21. The New York Times described the Rosenblums' playing style in the final game as follows:
"Although Cleveland deceived the Brooklyn players by short, tricky passes at various stages of the game the main strategy of the invaders seemed to be to get a few points ahead and then play catch with the ball to prevent the Brooklyn players from getting a chance. In the final six minutes, when Cleveland's margin was never more than a point or two, the ball was 'frozen' or passed from hand to hand for four minutes of the time."
The starting five for the Rosenblums' 1925-1926 championship team was Carl Husta (left forward), Nat Hickey (right forward), Rich Deighan (center), Dave Kerr (left guard), and John "Honey" Russell (right guard).
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