Game 2 was on national television (CBS), and the Squires ran away with a 125-100 victory. The Squires had to go overtime at home in Game 1 for a 114-107 victory. At first, the absence of Scott didn't seem to matter as Erving and the Squires easily swept the Floridians in the first round of the 1972 ABA Playoffs. Their hopes seemed to suffer a severe blow, however, when team scoring leader Charlie Scott abruptly left the team a few weeks before the end of the regular season. In the second round, the Squires held the home court advantage against the Kentucky Colonels and Dan Issel, but lost the series 4 games to 2.Īfter the addition of rookie Julius Erving the next season, Squires fans were optimistic that the team could win the ABA Championship. In the first round of the 1971 ABA Playoffs, Virginia beat Rick Barry and the New York Nets in a tough six game series. In each of their first two seasons in Virginia, the Squires almost made it to the ABA Finals. Johnson quickly took on the role of the team's "enforcer," and became a fan favorite. Johnson's rugged style was a good fit in the ABA. Johnson came to the Squires from the NBA Phoenix Suns. Virginia also added Neil Johnson (above left). Irvine didn't play much that year, but he demonstrated a fine shooting touch, hitting an impressive 56% from the floor. Scott shared the 70-71 ABA Rookie of the Year award with Dan Issel of the Kentucky. He tore through ABA defenses, averaging 27.1 points (5th in the ABA) and 5.6 assists (4th in the ABA). Scott certainly didn't look like a rookie in 1970-71. The Squires' "super-rookies" included Charlie Scott (above middle, #33) and George Irvine (right, # 30). While Moe's knees were beginning to give out, he still averaged 13.0 points. After one season with the Carolina Cougars, Moe was reunited with longtime friend and teammate Larry Brown. But the Squires also brought back an old friend and signed a few talented rookies.ĭoug Moe (above right, #15) had played with the franchise during its second year in Oakland (the 1968-69 championship year). Some first-year Squires were holdovers from the 1969-70 Washington Caps squad ( Larry Brown, Fatty Taylor, Jim Eakins, and Mike Barrett). They won the ABA's Eastern Division by 11 games over the Kentucky Colonels. They ran to 55 victories, third-best in the ABA. The 1970-71 Squires were a powerful, fast-breaking squad. After the 1971-72 season, the Squires abandoned Roanoke, mainly because their attendance was much higher in the other three locations. Like The Floridians and the Carolina Cougars, the Squires were a regional franchise and played their games in several Virginia cities: Norfolk, Hampton, Richmond, and Roanoke. as the Washington Capitals (1969-70), and two years in Oakland as the Oakland Oaks (1967-69). The Squires moved to Virginia in 1970 after spending one year in Washington, D.C. Instead, the Squires will always be remembered for unearthing (but not keeping!) future Hall of Fame players Julius Erving and George Gervin. The Squires were a legendary ABA team, but not necessarily because of their success on the court. Old Dominion University Fieldhouse (5,200)Īnd Zelmo Beaty Squires Fan Memories ()ĭid you see an Virginia Squires game? Or, did you have a favorite Squires player? Contribute to this web page by describing your favorite Squires memories.
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