Steel City Yellow Jackets Journal

In a touching gathering after the game, members of both the Steel City Yellow Jackets and Central PA Kings prayed for safe travels. By Thomas Leturgey The Central Pennsylvania Kings traveled from Harrisburg to make a point Saturday Night in Pittsburgh. From the pre-game warm-ups, the #21 ranked team looked focused and determined in their showdown with the defending American Basketball Association (ABA) Regional Champions. Led by Mookie Bates, a shooting guard averaging 45 points a game, the 7-4 Kings were poised against the 10-1 Yellow Jackets. Ace Pippens’ squad was depleted. Surging Co-Captain Tone Reddic was unable to make the game, and the immediate future of 7’ center Artis Cleveland remains unclear. Sidelined by a foot injury, Cleveland didn’t play the last few weeks, but was healthy Saturday. The East Detroit resident was home as of Friday. Players at this level often come-and-go from league to league, and Cleveland is hoping to further his hoops dreams in an upcoming training c

  Forward Claude Scott, Jr. had 34 points Saturday night, his best game of the year. By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets traveled to New Jersey on Saturday, and provided one of the team’s most consistent victories of the year. Ace Pippens’ squad, currently ranked third in the country, improves to 10-1 with the 140-124 victory. Forward Claude Scott, Jr. had his biggest game of the year so far with 34 points, and “Player of the Game” honors.  The defending American Basketball Association Champions scored 35 points in the opening quarter, to New Jersey Knights’ 22. Scott had 14 in the opening frame.  The Knights came alive in the second quarter and scored 28 to the Yellow Jackets’ 30. Kenny Holmes had 11 points in that frame.  Steel City led throughout the game, even though the Knights had a strong third quarter. The visitors scored 38 in that frame to the home team’s 37. Staying with the “balance” theme of the night, co-captain Tone Reddic added 11 points in that quarter of

By Thomas Leturgey with Arianna Rosemond Steel City Yellow Jackets Co-Captain Tone Reddic, Sr. is playing like he didn’t miss most of the first-half of the season due to nagging injuries. The guard led Ace Pippens’ squad with 37 points Saturday Night as the team made a strong statement at home. The team bested the Central Jersey Sharks 150-108. Reddic, on the strength of 14 two-pointers, only scored one in the first-quarter. Coming off the pine, the team leader just got stronger as the game wore on. Kenny Holmes had an uncharacteristically low output. The MVP candidate has averaged 40 points off the bench, but collected only 23 against the sharks. All of Holmes' jump shots were from behind the three-point line. Tim and James Jackson, both under the weather for last week’s game in West Virginia, returned to the club and each scored 17 points in the victory. The Yellow Jackets were never in serious danger at home. Jersey won the opening tip and they took a momentary lead when Christi

By Thomas Leturgey   On paper, a Yellow Jacket shouldn't stand much of a chance against a Shark, but the 8-1 defending ABA Champs hope to do just that. This Saturday Night, the Ace Pippens' squad looks to roll toward the playoffs in fine fashion. But the visiting predators hope to take a bite out of that plan. The best news for the team from the Steel City is that guard and MVP candidate Kenny Holmes is staying in Pittsburgh. Plans fell through for Holmes to return to Newfoundland and a basketball team there. But Newfoundland's loss is the ABA's gain.  Coming off of a 48-point effort last weekend, Holmes is ready to prove last season's success wasn't a fluke. Tone Reddic is also starting to find his groove, with 34 points in the win in West Virginia.  Tim and James Jackson, who were both ill last weekend, are expected to return. Center Artis Cleveland was injured and missed last weekend's contest. His status for Saturday is unclear.  The team also has high h

  By Thomas Leturgey The Steel City Yellow Jackets improved to 8-1 Saturday Night with a 32-point win over West Virginia’s Tri-State Blazers. Guard Kenny Holmes did his usual thing for the defending American Basketball Association (ABA) champion Yellow Jackets with 47 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.  On paper, Ace Pippens’ club was depleted without twins James and Tim Jackson, Gilmore Cummings or 7-foot center Artis Cleveland. But the team did have Holmes, Tone Reddic, Jr. and Amaru Caldwell to lead the way. Pittsburgh’s franchise, and #5 ranked team had a big free-agent signing during the break with Ryan Montoya. He scored five points in his Yellow Jackets debut. The Yellow Jackets started with a 32-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. Reddic led the visitors with 11 points and Holmes had 6, which equalled the output of the Keyser, West Virginia club in the first 12 minutes. Steel City’s club had a 72-52 lead at the end of the first half. Holmes, on the strength of three three-p