Evansville Agogans
Encyclopedia
The Evansville Agogans were a professional basketball
team who played in Evansville, Indiana
from 1950 to 1951 and were a member of the Western Division of the National Professional Basketball League. Games were typically played at the old Evansville Central High School
gym, now home to the downtown Evansville YMCA
. The Agogans were formally known as the Denver Refiners
and moved to Evansville, Indiana
due to the Denver franchise having difficulty in financing the team's long trips to all its eastern and midwestern counterparts. Bill Butterfield, an office supply store manager in Evansville, bought the franchise midway through the season and moved it to Indiana. Butterfield named the new team the Agogans, which meant "those with intense interest and excitement."
The Agogans featured the talents of former local high school athletes, including Butterfield's son and other individuals from the local Evansville Bosse High School state championship team. Also on the team were various other players with professional experience. The highlight of the short lived team was when the Agogans beat the Harlem Globetrotters
66-59 in 1951.
The team and league folded after 1951. Evansville would not be home to another professional basketball team until the Evansville Thunder
of the Continental Basketball Association
was formed in 1984.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team who played in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
from 1950 to 1951 and were a member of the Western Division of the National Professional Basketball League. Games were typically played at the old Evansville Central High School
Evansville Central High School
Evansville Central High School outside Evansville or Central High School inside Evansville, is the oldest public high school in continuous operation west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its was established in 1854 as Evansville High School...
gym, now home to the downtown Evansville YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. The Agogans were formally known as the Denver Refiners
Denver Refiners
The Denver Refinders were a professional basketball team who played in Denver, Colorado in 1950 and were a member of the Western Division of the National Professional Basketball League....
and moved to Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
due to the Denver franchise having difficulty in financing the team's long trips to all its eastern and midwestern counterparts. Bill Butterfield, an office supply store manager in Evansville, bought the franchise midway through the season and moved it to Indiana. Butterfield named the new team the Agogans, which meant "those with intense interest and excitement."
The Agogans featured the talents of former local high school athletes, including Butterfield's son and other individuals from the local Evansville Bosse High School state championship team. Also on the team were various other players with professional experience. The highlight of the short lived team was when the Agogans beat the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
66-59 in 1951.
The team and league folded after 1951. Evansville would not be home to another professional basketball team until the Evansville Thunder
Evansville Thunder
The Evansville Thunder were a professional basketball team who played in Evansville, Indiana from 1984 to 1986. The team was a member of the Continental Basketball Association and played at Roberts Municipal Stadium...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
was formed in 1984.