Your #2 Steel City Yellow Jackets, Fresh Off Strong Come-From-Behind Contest, Continue Quest For Championship

The Steel City Yellow Jackets celebrate with family and friends following their hard-fought 126-121 win against the Ohio Bruins. Photo Yellow Jackets Facebook.

by Thomas Leturgey

In the first few seconds of the Steel City Yellow Jacket's game with the Ohio Bruins on January 15, the home team was behind by 11-2. In the 2021-2022 season, that had not yet happened to Coach Ace Pippen's team at "A Giving Heart" Community Center in Pittsburgh's Allentown neighborhood.

Normally, the #3 Yellow Jackets score early and often, leaving their opponent's scrambling. Now, it was the 10-0 Pittsburgh's squad turn to readjust and climb the scoring hill.

"Do me a favor and calm yourself down. It's adversity, we got this. All we have to do is finish," were the words captured by Pippens to his team. According to Arianna Rosemond, the team's perpetually positive and professional scorekeeper, the Yellow Jackets have been clawing for eight years to reach an ABA championship. 

The #7 Bruins played as if they had a competitive chip on their shoulder. At one point, they held a formidable 31-10 lead. At the end of the first 12 minutes of play, the Bruins were cruising, 39-20. Co-captains Tone Reddic, Sr. and Gilmore Cummings had been held in check by an impressive Bruins defense. Pippens and Assistant Coaches Clyde Mann and Mike Mott had their hands full. 

In the second quarter, the game tightened. With every Yellow Jackets score, the Bruins traded a basket. The visiting club outscored the Yellow Jackets again, but only with by a 34-32 margin leading to halftime. Arguably, the Yellow Jackets could have caught up to that lead, but with just over 7 minutes remaining in the first half, the game came to an extended, grinding halt because of a substitution disagreement with game officials. All momentum for the home team ended once play resumed.

Usually, the Yellow Jackets lead by a lopsided score at the half, but this time the Bruins were shocking those in attendance, as well as the ABA with a 73-52 advantage.

Despite all of that, the Yellow Jackets remained composed.  

The third quarter started to move in the home team's way. Jason Arrington, Sr. contributed with 3 three-pointers in the third quarter, and Claude Scott Jr. added another 8 points in the third quarter alone. At the conclusion of three quarters, the Yellow Jackets had made major inroads by outscoring the competition 33-22. It was 95-85, Bruins. 

The Yellow Jackets continued to outscore the Bruins, 41-26 in the final period. Brandon Franklin took over the fourth quarter, as did co-captain Cummings. Franklin closed out the contest with 27 points and Cummings 22. Cummings landed (7) three-pointers throughout the evening and Franklin, who was fouled frequently in the fourth, hit 8 of 8 from the stripe. 

One of Franklin's buckets put the Yellow Jackets in the lead for the first time Saturday Night. Another extended the lead to 115-111. The pressure was on for the Bruins, and they missed some timely attempts as the time clock clicked on. 

January 15, 2022 team leaders.

The Yellow Jackets were able to maintain that lead and end the game 126-121, and still undefeated. Reddic contributed 18 to the win, as did Arrington's 16.  

The current day ABA is touted as the largest professional sports league in the country. There are 27 teams the Yellow Jacket's Northeast Region alone. Cleveland's (8-3) Burning River Buckets is in the North Central region. That 16-team division features more Yellow Jacket opponents than their own league. 

After the come-from-behind win, the Yellow Jackets moved up to #2 in the ABA, only behind the 12-0 Chula Vista Suns. At 9-0, the Palm Beach Stampede are the only other undefeated team in the ABA.

The Yellow Jackets continue to thrive for respect and the championship road. Next weekend, the Burning River Buckets are scheduled to be in Pittsburgh on Saturday, and (11-3) Birmingham Bulldogs on January 30. 

February looks to be very important to the club, as trips to Baltimore, Atlantic City, Cleveland and Beaver County are on the schedule. Home games include contests with Buchannon and the returning (9-2) Ohio Bruins. In March, Ace's team face the Atlantic Coast Seagulls and (8-3) Delco Desparados at A Giving Heart.