Eastern States Catholic Invitational

From Hoopedia

Eastern States Catholic Invitational

1938-1962

The Eastern States Catholic Invitational was inaugurated in 1938, and was sponsored by DelaSalle Academy of Newport, Rhode Island. The tournament drew teams from mainly New York City, Philadelphia, and New Jersey. St. Peter's (New Brunswick, NJ) won the first two championships. With the demise of the National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament in 1941, the Eastern States tournament emerged as the most significant basketball event for Catholic schools.

In 1954, the Eastern States Catholic tournament faced competition with the establishment of the National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament, in Washington, D.C. Further competition came from the inauguration of the Iona College Tournament in New Rochelle, NY, which attracted most of the major Catholic schools in the New York metropolitan area. A powerful team in the latter years was Archbishop Carroll of D.C., which in 1958 with John Thompson, Jr. (of Georgetown coaching fame)controlling the boards won the first of three consecutive championships.

The last Eastern States Catholic Tournament was probably 1962, won by DeMatha of Washington, D.C.

Tournament winners

1938 St. Peter’s (New Brunswick, NJ)
1939 St. Peter’s (New Brunswick, NJ)
1940 DelaSalle Academy (Newport, RI)
1941 LaSalle (New York)
1942 St. John’s Prep (Brooklyn)
1943 DelaSalle Academy (Newport, RI)
1944 LaSalle (Cumberland, MD)
1945 LaSalle (New York)
1946 LaSalle (Philadelphia)
1947 LaSalle (Philadelphia)
1948 Regis (New York)
1949 Regis (New York)
1950 DelaSalle Academy (Newport, RI)
1951 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ)
1952 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ)
1953 All Hallows (New York)
1954 All Hallows (New York)
1955 St. Mary’s (Elizabeth, NJ)
1956  ?
1957 Trenton Catholic (NJ)
1958 Archbishop Carroll (DC)
1959 Archbishop Carroll (DC)
1960 Archbishop Carroll (DC)
1961 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City)
1962 DeMatha (Washington, D.C.)