On April 23, 1961, Bill Russell’s superstar squad hit the court at the CYC for an epic showdown. Their opponents for the day? Togo Palazzi’s all-stars, featuring ballers like Ray Scott and Stacy Arceneaux, both Eastern League standouts. Palazzi himself was a seasoned NBA player, having rocked the courts with both the Celtics and the Syracuse Nationals.
Russell rolled in with a crew of five Celtics — K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Satch Sanders, and Hal Lear from the Eastern League. Speaking of Lear, he’d made waves at Temple, snagging the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player title in 1956. An All-American, he’d been dropping an impressive 24 points per game in his senior year.
Russell kept the vibe light with some playful antics during the game, but when it came to defense, he showcased his skills by swatting shots. Fresh off an MVP win the previous season and an NBA title for the Celtics, Russell was on fire.
Despite the hype, the game drew fewer than 500 fans. The Celtic All-stars dominated from the get-go, with Russell putting up 18 points and Eastern League sensation Hal “King” Lear dropping an impressive 38, leading all players.
The promoters had talked big, claiming they needed $2000 to break even. Reality check: they barely scraped in less than $1000. Now, they were singing a different tune, saying they might have to part ways with the Scranton Miners franchise to make up for their losses. Tough break in the world of hoops and dollars.
Boxscore Bill Russell’s stars
NEPA SPORTS History, Scranton history and some Penn State football 
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