Steel City Yellow Jackets Vie For NE Regionals This Saturday

by Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond

The Northeast Semi-Finals of the American Basketball Association (ABA) playoffs go through the Steel City this weekend as the Yellow Jackets take on the Binghamton Bulldogs.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets are in their 8th season, 15-2, and preparing to take on the Binghamton Bulldogs in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

Some 18 teams are still in contention for the five remaining slots, including 8 of the Top 10 teams in the ABA Power Rankings, which includes Coach Ace Pippen's club.

The winners of this weekend's games will move on to the ABA Final Eight Tournament, which was recently moved from Kansas City, MO to Baltimore, MD from April 21 to the 23rd.

Recently, Pippens had an interview with Kiki Brown on KDKA Radio.com's "What's Good in Ya Hood." "We made it to the divisional championship in our first year," Pippens said. "For the past six seasons, we've won 3 regional championships , made it to the final 8 four times, and the final four last year. We're going to win the championship this year."

Brown asked Pippens to talk about his favorites on the roster, but the Coach talked about how each of the players fill imporant roles on the club. 

"Every player matters," he answered. "[Some players] have good games, while others have great games. Unexpected games." He want on to note that Tim Jackson came of the bench one game and scored 24 points in 16 minutes. He also talked about point guard Brandon Franklin's explosiveness and the effectiveness of co-captains Antonio Reddic, Sr. and Gilmore Cummings. "They make it happen," he said. 

The Yellow Jackets are going to have their hands full when Binghamton returns. The Bulldogs had taken a hard-fought lead over the Yellow Jackets going into the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh on July 30. But in the final quarter, the Yellow Jackets bounced back late in the contest for the 110-99 victory. 

In that game, Reddic lead the Yellow Jackets with 34 points and Brandon Franklin posted 23. Tim Jackson added 17, and Claude Scott had 10. For the Bulldogs, Brent Williams and Ralph Williams each had 21 points. Johnny Marsh added 14. All 10 members of the Bulldogs traveling squad scored. 

The Yellow Jackets have had a change in the lineup since then. Kenny Holmes, who had played for the team in previous years, returned and has had a great stretch of games late in the campaign. Holmes had 42 points in last weekend's playoff game against the New York Hoop Dragons, and 6'6" Billy Dee Williams has shored up the team's game in the paint. 

All season, Pippens has emphasized the importance of the team in the community and "it's brotherhood." The team plays its games at A Giving Heart Community Center in the city's Allentown neighborhood.

This Saturday's game is at 7 p.m. The winner returns Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. for the regional championships. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 students, and available at the door.