Steel City Yellow Jackets Journal

Artis Cleveland (l) and Antonio Reddic, Sr. (c) and Kenny Holmes (r) gather with the Yellow Jackets and coach Ace Pippens (center bottom) following their 142-89 sweep of the Burning River Buckets.    By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets had their first away-and-home weekend of the 2022-2023 campaign and went up against a formidable Burning River Buckets club. The score was a competitive 121-111 affair in Cleveland on Saturday, so a couple of worn-out teams traveled back to Pittsburgh to face off less than 24 later in the Allentown neighborhood within the city of Pittsburgh. And the Yellow Jackets were ready. Much has been made of the dominance of guard Kenny Holmes, who has averaged 40 points a game coming off the bench this campaign. But when he showed up on Sunday, the rigors of a 42-point exhibition were on display. But once “Agent Zero” was warmed up, he was effective. In addition, the returning Tone Reddic Sr. said after Sunday’s game that he knew he had some court rus

  The victorious Yellow Jackets talk with Coach Ace Pippens after their game Saturday Night. By Thomas Leturgey The Burning River Buckets came to play in the first quarter of the home versus away showdown with the #1 ranked Steel City Yellow Jackets. The #10-ranked team from Cleveland jumped to a 12-0 lead at Mentor High School before Ace Pippens’ club could find the basket. With 8:41 to go in the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets called a timeout, facing the biggest deficit they’ve had all season.  It would be a few more minutes before Amaru Caldwell would score, to make it a 12-2 game. The Buckets were playing a more aggressive defense against the Yellow Jackets and they did a good job scoring early on. But James Jackson scored to start a run that would find the Yellow Jackets back in the contest. Caldwell would hit a three-point play to make it 18-7 before Kenny Holmes came into the game. He scored and then Tim Jackson made it 18-11. Artis Cleveland started to rebound in the paint a

Co-Captain Tone Reddic, Sr. is back this weekend for the series against Cleveland. By Thomas Leturgey Tone Reddic, Sr. watched last weekend’s last-seconds victory over the Ohio Bruins via the online broadcast. He was itching as he watched the Steel City Yellow Jackets trail in the final moments before Kenny Holmes hit a 3D triple pointer for the 131-130 victory.  It was time for the Co-Captain to come back to help defend the National Championship. Reddic, 34, has been playing competitive sports since he was about 14. He played receiver and defensive back (and anything else they needed) for Aliquippa High School and was able to take part in a game in the playoffs at Heinz Field. Now, his son, Antonio, Jr., is a 14-year-old sophomore who is playing receiver and cornerback for the same Aliquippa High School. Reddic, Jr. was getting ready to play Friday night at the same venue, now called Acrisure Stadium, and Dad was in attendance. But it was the Yellow Jackets that has been foremost on t

Kenny Holmes on the move. Photo courtesy of Ray Durkin. By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets, coming off of a hard-fought victory last weekend against the Ohio Bruins, make their first trip outside of the city this season to face the Burning River Buckets in Cleveland. And leading the way will be shooting guard Kenny Holmes, who celebrates his 29th birthday on November 23. Holmes has already made an impact on the 3-0 Yellow Jackets’ early season. He scored 40 points, including a game-winner 3D trey with nine seconds remaining on the clock last weekend. The week prior, Holmes led all scorers with 41 points. During the home and season opener, Holmes posted 38 points.  To have someone who can jump off of the bench and average 40 points a game is a big plus for any team, let alone the defending American Basketball Association (ABA) champions.  “It was a good win for us,” Holmes said of the last-second win against the Bruins. “We called the play, came up off the screen and staye

"Agent Zero" Kenny Holmes after Saturday Night's 131-130 win at home. By Thomas Leturgey     In any team sport, there are rivals. Most often, there is a geographical closeness for communities that oftentimes share familiar themes. Think of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns of lore, or the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies through time.   The Steel City Yellow Jackets and the Ohio Bruins are among the top rivalries in the American Basketball Association. Last season, the Bruins were one of two teams (the other being Baltimore…another rival) to defeat the Yellow Jackets on their way to their first-ever National Championship.    On Saturday, November 19, the game came down to a buzzer beater from arguably the league’s top player. Ace Pippens’ team faced its first scare of the new season and defeated Chris Anthony, Sr.’s club 131-130.   Guard Kenny Holmes continued his dominance on the hardwood when he nailed a three-point play with time expiring, wh

Artis Cleveland. By Thomas Leturgey It will take a little while for Artis Cleveland to get used to the unique rules of the modern-day American Basketball Association (ABA). With the extra points from backcourt turnover 3D options, the ABA is unlike any other league the East Detroit native has played. But he’s eager to contribute to the #1 ranked, defending champion Steel City Yellow Jackets. While the Yellow Jackets are one of the fastest and highest-scoring teams in the ABA, the club won its first-ever National Championship last April due to defense. And they were able to keep other teams’ offense on their heels with a 6’3” forward in Antonio Reddic, Sr. playing as an undersized center. This season, with Reddic and 6’6” forward/center Claude Scott, Jr. on the Injured Reserve and 6’7” center Justin Hamilton not returning, the team had been bereft of a big man in the paint. Early in the season, 6’7” forward Dominick McClung has come on strong and 6’9” Brandon Burnett has added size off

The Steel City Yellow Jackets pose for photos following their win Saturday Night. Photo courtesy of Steel City Yellow Jackets Facebook page. By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets improved to 2-0 Saturday Night at home in Allentown but the win was bittersweet. The visiting Naptown Pros from the state of Indiana played despite losing their owner on October 16. Chris Coley was a few weeks short of his 61st birthday when he passed suddenly. Both teams came together following the 183-112 contest for a prayer to honor Mr. Coley. Steel City Yellow Jackets owner Ace Pippen’s mother, Cordelia Hill, led the joint prayer.  The Steel City Yellow Jackets and Naptown Pros prayed together to honor Chris Coley, the owner of the Indiana team, who recently passed away. SCYJ Owner Ace Pippens' mother, Cordelia, led the prayer.  Coach Pippens, who has been battling a cold and laryngitis, was on hand but allowed injured forward Claude Scott, Jr. take the reins of some of the Saturday Night c

  By Thomas Leturgey The American Basketball Association’s #1 ranked club in the Power Rankings returns to action this Saturday in Pittsburgh as the Naptown Pros (1-0) come to town to take on the defending National Champion Steel City Yellow Jackets (1-0). Indianapolis’ franchise recently registered their first win of the season, a 143-132 contest with the Akron Aviators. The Naptown Pros are tied for 22nd in the ABA early-season power rankings with the 1-0 Florida Sun Blazers (1-0). Very little is known about the Naptown Pros, but based on their 143-point output, Ace Pippen’s Yellow Jackets will have to continue their focus on defense. The Yellow Jackets have been hit by the injury bug early on with Co-Captain Tone Reddic Sr. still on the Injured Reserve, along with Claude Scott, Jr. Both of those veterans are missed, but are expected back. Scott said recently he should be returning to action in a couple of weeks, while Reddic’s back is resting nicely. Pippens doesn’t want to rush eit

Steel City Yellow Jackets coach Ace Pippens talks to the club following their 150-107 home opener win against Beaver County. Photo by Thomas Leturgey. By Thomas Leturgey It’s been an active six months for the Steel City Yellow Jackets since winning the American Basketball Association (ABA) National Championship last April. Plus, there is the novelty of being the championship team for the first time since the club was formed in 2014. And the nervousness was shown in the first quarter of the Yellow Jacket’s home opener Saturday night in Allentown. While Ace Pippens’ club never once trailed in this contest, they did face a game Beaver County Indians team. Wayne Cureton’s club came out with all cylinders in the early going and made the Yellow Jackets earn every bucket. Guard Amaru Caldwell got things going in the early moments of the game with a three pointer. Forward Dominick McClung, who played a key role in this victory, scored a jumper from low under the basket to get things started.